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FORTUNE GULCH 


ft Story of the Jtfineg 


BY 


SOPH/E BRONSON T/TTERINGTON 


DEG 1892 

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PHILADELPHIA 

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Fortune Gulch 


A STORY OF THE MINES. 


BY 

SOPHIE (BRONSON) TITTERINGTON. 

H 


PHILADELPHIA : 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
1420 Chestnut Street. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by the 
AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


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CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

A Stranger at the Mines, . . • 5 

CHAPTER II. 

A Prayer from the Depths, 14 

CHAPTER III. 

A Midnight Summons, 23 

CHAPTER IV. 

A Perplexing Problem, 31 

CHAPTER Y. 

Christmas in the Mountains, 41 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Missing Papers, 52 

CHAPTER VII. 

A Hasty Departure, 63 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A Woman in the Camp, 72 


3 


4 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER IX. 

PAGE 

Changes at Fortune Gulch, 81 

CHAPTER X. 

A Blessed Fruitage, 91 

CHAPTER XL 

Tidings, 101 

CHAPTER XII. 

A Game of Hide and Seek, 110 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Finding of Jem Flanigan, 120 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Revelations, 129 

CHAPTER XV. 

Toward the Sunrising, 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Bessie at Home, 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Bessie at Eighteen, . 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

At Fortune Gulch, ... 169 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


CHAPTER I. 

A STRANGER AT THE MINES. 

TT IGH up in the California Sierras, less than thirty 
years ago, was the little mining camp of Fortune 
Gulch. It was named by the original prospector in this 
region, who, having struck a rich pocket, dreamed of 
millions to come, staked out a claim, and called it “ For- 
tune.” The pocket was soon exhausted, and with it luck 
departed from its discoverer. But the fame of Fortune 
Gulch had spread far and wide, and hither hastened a 
crowd of eager gold seekers. No fabulous wealth 
rewarded their labor, but steady returns came from 
patient work with pick, shovel, and pan, or the more 
ambitious rocker. Fortune Creek ran singing down the 
hillside, forgetting not its music because here and there 
it helped the toiling miner to wash out his pan of gravel. 
In fact, so well did the Gulch continue to yield “ pay- 
dirt,” that the little mining camp had a longer lease of 
life than many of its kind. 

One golden day, in the height of the California sum- 

5 


6 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


mer, a thin, tired, discouraged-looking man, driving a 
melancholy ox and a cow with a crooked horn before a 
small covered wagon, came into the camp. The trails 
were steep that led to Fortune Gulch, and it had been 
weary climbing. The miners were used to all sorts of 
surprising things, but it nearly took the breath of the 
assembled camp away, to see within the wagon a bright, 
bonnie baby girl, not more than two years old. There 
was not a woman in the place, and the advent of the 
little stranger made a genuine sensation. Tears came to 
the eyes of the roughest men as they thought of wives 
and little ones in the far-away East. The sight of her 
baby innocence roused emotions such as souls in the outer 
darkness might feel at the sight of an angel from heaven. 

The arrival occurred near the sunset hour, just as the 
men were returning from their daily toil. The strange- 
ness of the circumstance filled them with wonder. How 
came this man to be wandering among the mountains 
with such a companion ? 

But in his quiet manner there was a dignity and re- 
serve that compelled respect, even in this lawless region, 
and impertinent curiosity found itself held in check. 
Without his baby-girl, however, he might have met with 
a rougher reception, for the genuine California miner of 
those pioneer days despised anything that savored of 
familiarity with civilized life, and this man w T as evidently 
not one of their sort. But as the father of such a win- 


FORTUNE GULCH. • 


7 


some child, he was secure, and every man vied with the 
others in offers of hospitality. 

The stranger, with gentle courtesy, firmly refused all 
proffered aid. His very speech betrayed the difference 
between him and his would-be hosts. 

“Ho, friends, thank you, kindly,” he said. “We have 
provisions, the cow will give us milk, and the wagon is a 
very good sleeping place, and will do until I can build a 
cabin. I wouldn’t put any of you out, and we thank 
you just the same, Bessie and I.” 

Under ordinary circumstances, this speech might have 
roused a derisive cry of “tenderfoot.” But Baby Bessie, 
with her great blue eyes, and dark, curling hair, smiled 
like a little queen on the assembled group, and hence- 
forth every man was her willing slave. A little further 
conversation revealed the fact that the new-comer s name 
was David Preston, and that his business in the mount- 
ains was the same as theirs — searching for gold. 

“ Look-a-here, pards,” said one of the men, what s 
the matter of their takin’ Apple J ack s ole cabin. He s 
lit out for good from these ere diggin’s?” 

There was a chorus of assent, and one of the miners 
volunteered to conduct them to the rude cabin, which 
was much better than no shelter at all. 

“ It ain’t much to look at,” said their guide, “ but a 
leetle patchin’ ’ll make it as good as the rest of us hev.” 

David Preston expressed his hearty gratitude, and in 


8 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


the waning light the cabin was hastily made habitable 
for himself and the child. A good many comforts not 
usually found in mining camps came out of the little 
wagon, and the miner who was helping them, Bill Myers 
by name, opened his eyes in wonder. One small box was 
filled with books. A mattress, blankets, quilts, and 
pillows, were unwonted luxuries in Fortune Gulch. 

“ Hang it, pards, but it’s all-fired queer ! ” said Bill 
Myers to the assembled crowd that night in Jem Flani- 
gan’s saloon. “ He’s naught but a tenderfoot, and 
mighty slim-lookin’ at that ; an’ what possessed him to 
bring that baby into this God-forsaken region, passes my 
time o’ day.” 

“You’re right, pard,” responded a tall, lean, lank indi- 
vidual, with long, unkempt hair, whom the camp called 
“Absalom.” For nicknames, fitting some personal or 
mental peculiarity, seem indigenous to the far Western 
country ; and the early Californian, with all his reckless- 
ness and wickedness, greatly favored Bible names. Often 
their aptness suggested a familiarity with the holy book 
that would not otherwise be supposed. 

“It’s mighty strange whar the mother is. It ’pears 
like they woz two young uns together. Mebbe they’ll 
bring a blessin’ to the camp, boys, particular the baby. 
When I woz a minin’ over in Indian Flat, a baby woz 
borned thar, and bless us, pard, ef we didn’t strike it 
rich the very next day. It sort o’ seems to me,” he con- 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


9 


tinued, with a slightly shame-faced air, “ ez ef the Lord 
A’mighty woz a lettle neerer with one of them blessed 
innercents about.” 

This seemed to be the general opinion, and David 
Preston’s safety in that camp was henceforth assured. 
Baby Bessie was a mightier shield than a cordon of 
armed men would have been. 

In perfect friendliness, the miners watched David 
Preston’s movements, curious as to what he would do, and 
ready to help when opportunity offered. The cabin was 
situated in a charming nook by Fortune Gulch creek, 
sheltered from rude winds by the surrounding rocks, and 
standing in a beautiful group of silver pines. Close at 
hand was ample pasturage for the ox and cow, where they 
could be tethered in safety. David Preston spent several 
days in making things comfortable, and his handiness 
won approval from the miners. A shelf was put up for 
the precious books; the scanty household conveniences 
were arranged with a taste and neatness that suggested 
feminine care. The broken door was mended and hung 
in better shape than in its earliest days, while a broad 
step made it safe and easy for Baby Bessie to climb in 
and out. Her clothes, although coarse, were carefully 
mended and clean. Surely, there seemed to be no cloud 
in her childish sky, however darkly they might shadow 
her father’s horizon. 

These necessary preliminaries being finished, regular 


10 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


work began. Packing a lunch and a bottle of milk in a 
tin pail, David Preston, always taking the little girl with 
him, prospected up and down the creek where other 
claims had not been previously located. He seemed 
eager and intent in his search, wasting no time in idle 
dreaming, but almost feverish in the intensity of his 
industry. His gold-washing outfit, simply a pick, shovel, 
and pan, he used faithfully. Within three days he had 
located a claim about half a mile from his cabin, higher 
up the stream than any other claims had gone. 

A mystery seemed to hang about this quiet, sad-faced 
man, a mystery none the less because of his baby com- 
panion. Every morning, after the simple breakfast was 
over, the ox and the cow safely tethered, the father and 
child would go together to the lonely place where he had 
staked out his ground. There they would stay all day, 
Bessie toddling about the rocks, or sleeping on a bit of 
green sward close beside her father at his work. At 
noon, under a giant tree, David Preston would take the 
child on his lap, and together they ate their noonday 
lunch. His weariness compelled him to take an hour for 
rest. A looker-on might have seen the shadows deepen 
on the man’s face, while now and then he pressed his 
hand convulsively over his heart, as if a spasm of pain 
threatened his self-control. A little later, rousing him- 
self, he would go wearily to his work, ever sifting the 
gravel with intense eagerness, gathering up each yellow 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


11 


grain with miserly care, for these bits of gold gave hope 
of life and freedom. 

The soft tenderness of the twilight is unknown in 
California. When the sun sinks behind the mountain 
peaks, night swallows up the world. The stars spring 
into quick splendor, and the moon, in her season, at once 
sits upon the abdicated throne of the day. When the 
golden rays drew toward their westering, David Preston 
would gather his little girl in his arms, and descend to 
the humble cabin which was their home in the wilder- 
ness. 

Bessie was a magnet which drew the miners to the camp 
in the summer evenings. Mr. Preston’s quiet courtesy 
was a strange and alien thing in the mines. Although 
he longed for restful solitude, he never repulsed his 
kindly disposed neighbors. Indeed, they soon learned to 
respect him. Something about him appealed to the spark 
of manliness and chivalry in their bosoms. But Bessie 
won every heart, and many were the tokens brought 
down to Apple Jack’s old cabin by the friendly hearted 
men for the little maiden. There could not be much 
variety in their gifts, for outside of nature, there is small 
store from which to draw in the lonely mountains. A 
sparkling stone, a cluster of wild flowers, were among the 
gifts offered for her acceptance. At last, it came to be 
the fashion to consider the tiny nuggets of gold sacred to 
the baby of the camp. Bill Myers gave her an orna- 


12 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


merited buckskin bag to bold her treasures, and soon 
there were enough for her to rattle with great glee. 

Two months after the Prestons had become accredited 
members of Fortune Gulch camp, it became necessary 
for some one to go down to Monte Christo Flat, fifteen 
miles distant, for supplies. Hitherto, all provisions had 
been packed up the mountain on the backs of the men. 
It was Absalom’s turn to go, and Mr. Preston made a 
cordial offer of his team and wagon. The trail to 
Monte Christo was broad and safe for vehicles, so this 
was help to be thoroughly appreciated. In this way, 
enough could be brought at one trip to last a long time. 

In due time, Absalom came back with a well-loaded 
wagon, in which, however, he had contrived to find room 
for a gift to Bessie, a coal-black Newfoundland puppy. 
He explained, in his awkward fashion, that it would not 
only serve as a playfellow, but when it was grown, it 
might be a protection also for the child. 

Mr. Preston thanked him, saying: “ It will be a com- 
fort to Bessie, and God knows she may have sore need of 
a protector.” The strange spasm seized him, and he 
pressed his hand upon his heart, while his face was con- 
vulsed with agony. Absalom started forward in alarm, 
as if to call for help, but he recovered himself, exclaim- 
ing, hastily: 

“Don’t say anything. It is all over now. I have 
these twinges occasionally.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


13 


Bessie and her puppy took to each other immediately. 
Somewhere, in her brief past, she must have known a 
dog, and kept his name in her memory ; for as soon as he 
arrived she plunged her fingers in his black, shaggy coat, 
laughing and crying, “ Pete, Pete.” So Pete he became, 
and Pete he remained through many years of devoted 
service to his loved mistress. His intelligence, from the 
very first, was wonderful. He seemed to understand that 
Bessie was his special charge, and the way he would bark 
and fly around her, if anything approached, was funny 
enough. In later years, this fidelity was the marked 
feature of his character. Now, in these early days of 
their association, the two were babies together, and played 
with all the abandon of childhood. Little did Bessie 
realize the strange, unusual experiences in store for her in 
a future near at hand. David Preston felt the shadows 
deepening around his path, while hope itself seemed to 
mock him with visions never to be realized. 


CHAPTER II. 


A PRAYER FROM THE DEPTHS. 

rilHE scenery in the California Sierras is wonderful. 

It seems as if nature, piling marvel upon marvel, 
had been trying experiments on a stupendous scale, each 
successive attempt outdoing the others. Old Ocean con- 
fesses the solidity of the barriers heaped in the way of his 
farther advance, and submissively kisses the sands at the 
foot of the mountains. 

Fortune Gulch was almost in sight of the Yosemite 
Valley, containing, perhaps, more marvels than any equal 
area on the surface of the earth. Its outlying peaks 
were plainly visible. But in that day few eyes had ever 
beheld its stupendous majesty and exquisite beauty, save 
the Indians, who claimed it as their own. 

At the elevation of five thousand feet above sea level, 
the early morning presents a strange, weird scene. The 
valleys below look like great lakes filled with billows of 
fog, surging and tossing restlessly, as if they were the 
ghosts of ocean waves. Above, the sky spans the earth 
with an intensity of blue, in strange contrast to the white- 
capped masses below. It is not the old, familiar world, 

but one transformed by some weird power. The 
14 


sun 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


15 


shines with calm radiance upon these dwellers on the 
mountain side, while on the lower levels the salt fog irri- 
tates and inflames sensitive lungs ; for it is the Pacific 
itself invading the valleys in ghostly raiment of vapor. 
If the wind is abroad, the spectator on the heights sees 
the white billows roll grandly out through the defiles of 
the hills toward the ocean. On a still morning, it rises 
in drifting masses till dissolved by the all-conquering 
power of the sunlight. The silence can be felt. The 
only sounds are from the mining camps, the noises that 
betoken awaking humanity, and preparations for break- 
fast. These are not always in harmony with the sur- 
roundings. The rough and profane words that echo 
through the stillness seem doubly a pollution in the 
presence of the snow-white purity below. But it surges 
on, majestic, unsullied, while all around, in their eternal 
silence, the snow-capped peaks pierce the sky. 

Oh, those mountains ! To David Preston they seemed 
dreadful in their more than human expression. To him 
they were a horizon barrier, holding him a prisoner to 
his fate. In the sunset, they were wonderful in their 
stern majesty, lighting up with a glory of color that re- 
called to his mind the visions of the Apocalypse. The 
sunrise made them aglow with softer tints; yet at all 
times they were the symbol of an irresistible power, un- 
pitying as fate. 

Oh, for gold, gold, gold ! Not for a miserly love of 


16 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


the yellow dust, that accumulated slowly in his buckskin 
bag, but for the release it would bring from these terrible 
imprisoning mountains. Beyond, toward the sunrising, 
lay home, mother, all — save only Bessie — that made life 
desirable. The story of his life, with sunlight and black 
shadow in swift alternation, lay behind him. He would 
not dwell on that, lest memory should unnerve him for 
the present conflict. But, oh, for a mere fraction of the 
precious metal that was hidden among these mountains ! 
The hills kept their secret well, not yielding it to every 
chance comer. He must find it soon ; enough at least to 
take them both to that far-away, blessed home. The high 
altitude was slowly, but surely, fastening a death-grip 
upon his heart. The terrible spasms of pain were becom- 
ing more and more frequent. Home! How the word 
seemed to echo and taunt his longing soul ! He would 
search yet again and again. God must be merciful, and 
not permit him to die among those rough men, with 
Bessie, his darling Bessie, unprovided for, and far away 
from the blessed refuge awaiting her coming. 

But day by day his feverish labor brought no rich re- 
turns. A few dollars, at the best ; on others, his gains were 
reckoned by cents. He was not wise in the science of 
gold digging ; his life had been spent in far different pur- 
suits. His thin face grew still thinner, and the haggard 
look in his eyes deepened. 

One night, as Absalom was returning homeward at an 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


17 


unusually late hour, his way leading him in the rear of 
Apple Jack’s old cabin, he was startled to hear a man’s 
voice under the pines, sharp with its agony of supplica- 
tion. His first thought was of foul play ; and pausing to 
listen he heard these words : 

“ O God, hast thou forgotten ? Send help, I pray, 
and deliverance from this wilderness ! Give my hands 
skill to find the hidden treasure in the earth. Let me 
live to take my innocent child to safe watchcare. O 
Lord, the God of my mother, and of my best beloved, 
turn not a deaf ear, but be merciful to me, a sinner ! ” 
Sobs broke the supplication, and Absalom stepped 
softly by, feeling like an intruder on hallowed ground. 

“ I’ll be hanged if thet chap wern’t a prayin ! ” he said 
to himself. “ Talked to God A’mighty ez ef he woz 
quainted with him too. Wonder what he wants so bad? 
I’d giv’ it to him quick enough ef I had it ! ” 

To Absalom’s credit, be it said, that he told naught of 
what he had heard to his fellow-miners. He instinctively 
knew that the story would not be understood, and a hith- 
erto latent sense of honor awoke in his breast. From this 
time on, he felt a sort of reverence for the man who was 
“ ’quainted” with the Lord Almighty. He watched, al- 
most as anxiously as the man himself, for a “ turn of 
luck,” as he called it. But none came, and Absalom’s 
kindly heart really ached for the longing, despairing soul. 

The season passed, and autumn gave signs of her pres- 
B 


18 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


ence. This is not altogether a pleasant time for the 
dwellers on the hills. The morning fogs in the valley 
rise and wrap the heights in its chill whiteness. One 
looks abroad on a veiled landscape. Everything is 
hidden by a thick, white wall, impenetrable to the sight. 
The every-day world is scarcely to be recognized in this 
unfamiliar aspect. The damp chilliness is indescribable, 
piercing to the very heart. A strange depression seizes 
the sensitive soul, and a feeling of unreality possesses the 
senses. The sun has a sharp struggle in proving himself 
monarch of the rolling vapors, but at last he conquers, 
and the warmth of his beams is indeed grateful to the 
shivering dwellers upon the mountain side. All day he 
shines in golden splendor, until the lofty peaks hide him 
from view, only to find the battle renewed the next morn- 
ing. Thus it goes on, until winter comes to take the 
sceptre, and lock up the gold in the frozen earth. 

As the season advanced, Mr. Preston worked with in- 
creasing intensity. Any day he might strike a rich 
pocket, or a golden nugget that would enable him to fly 
eastward with Bessie before the winter should set in upon 
them. But each morning’s eager hopefulness was met 
with bitter disappointment. He was fairly successful now, 
as success was reckoned in Fortune Gulch, but no heaped- 
up treasure of gold revealed itself to his longing eyes. 
He thought he should go mad with hope deferred. 

The weather grew chill, and most of the men ceased 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


19 


working their claims. It was too cold for Bessie to be 
taken with him, but leaving her with Pete for an hour or 
so at a time, he would hasten to the spot he was working 
and wash a pan or two of gravel with desperate energy. 
Hope died hard in his breast, and although he knew that 
the way by the plains was impassable at this season, yet 
there was the route by sea, if only he could scrape 
together the means to avail himself of it. 

Meanwhile the camp was being thinned by the depart- 
ure of the men who proposed to winter elsewhere. Some 
had gathered a goodly amount of dust, which they would 
fling away in wild carousal in Sacramento or San Fran- 
cisco. Others hoped to find work in the valleys, and thus 
earn something for waiting families at home. David 
Preston saw them go in apathetic despair. Hope had 
departed, and for this winter, at least, he must be content 
to be imprisoned in the mountains. It must be right, or 
the Lord would have sent deliverance. For in the ship- 
wreck of all else, he clung to his faith in God. Had it 
not been for this, he must have gone mad. 

Absalom and Bill Myers were partners, or “ pards,” in 
the parlance of the mines. Their cabin was the best in 
the camp. They had a claim in common, which they 
worked together, sharing equally the profits. Absalom 
was a man absolutely without ties, while Bill Myers had 
a family in the East. 

For two years the two men had been associated, and it 


20 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


was a sort of unexpressed, rude attachment to Bill that 
kept Absalom at the mines. 

One night, when they had escaped earlier than usual 
from the noisy attractions of Jem Flanigan’s saloon, they 
began talking of David Preston and his child. 

“ I ’low/* said Bill Meyers, “ thet ole man Preston’s a bit 
tetched. He don’t seem to think of nothin’ but diggin’ 
gold, when the weather ’ll let him, an’ he looks slimmer 
every day. What on arth is goin’ to become of him an’ 
thet ere baby through the winter? Ef he’s got folks, 
why don’t he go to them, leastways long ’nuff to put Bess 
in a fittener place ? ” 

“ He ’lowed to me,” responded Absalom, “ soon arter 
they cum, thet he expected to git away afore winter. But 
he hain’t made no sech pile ez thet would take, bein’ as 
he is a green hand at the bizness. I know he’s mighty 
flustered about it. I don’t like the peaked look thet’s 
growin’ on him.” 

“ Thet’s so,” answered Myers, reflectively. “ I tell you 
what, pard,” he said suddenly, as if a big thought had 
struck him, “ we ain’t none of us rich, but I’ll be hanged 
ef I ain’t willin’ to chip in my share of dust to take them 
two innercents whar they belong.” 

“ Your head’s level, pard,” replied Absalom, admir- 
ingly. “ Thet’s jest the ticket. I hain’t got no wife nor 
babies East to send my dust to, ez you has, an’ I’ll give 
twic’t what you do. We'll see the other boys to-morrer.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


21 


This conclusion reached, the two men tumbled into 
their bunks, their sleep doubtless sweeter for their con- 
sciousness of a generous intent. 

The result of their interviews with the “ boys ” was a 
visit of Absalom and Bill Myers to Preston’s cabin the 
next evening. They found him more haggard and worn- 
looking than they had ever seen him before. It was a 
little hard for Absalom, who had been appointed spokes- 
man, to introduce his errand. He played with Bessie and 
Pete, and' talked of every subject he could think of, until 
Bill began to be impatient, and gave him a significant 
nudge. Clearing his throat, he plunged desperately into 
the heart of his commission. 

“Mr. Preston, me an’ my pards, knowin’ that you 
would like to go East afore winter shet ye in the camp, 
an’ seein’ as how Bess ’d be more comfortable like ’mong 
yer friends, bev chipped in tergether this yer bag of dust. 
Ye haven’t struck it rich, as ye mought another season, 
when ye got the hang of things a leetle more, an’ we hope 
ye’ll take it kindly.” 

“Ye mustn’t think,” interposed Bill, “thet this yer 
camp wants to git rid of ye. It’ll be powerful lonesome 
without Bess here,” and the man’s voice trembled, “ but 
we’re thinkin’ of her good, an’ yourn too. Ye ain’t fit 
fur this hard life, an’ as yer friends, we want to help ye 
out of it.” 

Absalom laid the bag of gold dust in Mr. Preston’s 


22 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


hand. It was far heavier than the little store he had 
labored so hard to gather. Speech utterly failed him. 
In the whirl of confused ideas and emotions, one thought 
alone stood out clearly : the Lord had not forgotten. He 
fell on his knees, unmindful of his auditors, and poured 
out such a flood of broken thanksgiving to God, that the 
men before him stood awed with uncovered heads, as in the 
presence chamber of the Almighty. Presently, he remem- 
bered himself, and rose with a face illumined. Grasping 
them by the hand, he said : 

“ Friends, for Bessie’s sake, I accept your gift. I will 
use it to place her in loving hands, and ask God to send 
his choicest blessings down upon every one of you.” 

The words, solemnly spoken, seemed like a benediction ; 
and Absalom and Bill Myers returned to their waiting 
comrades with tender, softened hearts. 


CHAPTER III. 


A MIDNIGHT SUMMONS. 

mHE report that had been brought by Absalom and 
Bill Myers regarding the thankfulness with which 
their gift had been received, impressed the rough miners 
greatly. As a rule, men dwelling long among mountain 
solitudes become imbued with a vein of superstition. So 
it was not strange that a vague idea of some mysterious 
blessing, or “ luck,” as they called it, took possession of 
their minds. David Preston and his little girl had come 
as a new and strange experience in camp life. The pros- 
pect of their immediate departure was regarded with 
sincere regret ; yet not one of them would have lifted a 
finger to keep them in Fortune Gulch. The better part 
of their natures had been touched ; and in their own 
exile, they rejoiced that it had been in their power to 
help these wanderers on their way home. 

The next morning, it was noticed that there was no stir 
about Mr. Preston’s cabin. They speculated and won- 
dered until the hour grew so late that all in the camp 
became alarmed, and Absalom went to look into the 
cause. As he drew near, he heard Bessie’s voice, crying 

pitifully. Entering, he found her vainly trying to 

23 


24 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


arouse her father, who lay motionless in his bunk. One 
glance revealed the truth. David Preston was dead ! 

Stepping to the door, Absalom called aloud for help, 
and soon the men were all in the little room. Bessie was 
sobbing out her fear and terror in Absalom’s arms. The 
child was chilled through and through, standing so long 
over her ^father with no fire in the little stove. Wrapping 
a warm blanket about her, he took her to his own cabin, 
leaving the others to perform the necessary ministrations 
for the lifeless body. A warm breakfast revived and 
comforted the baby-girl to some degree, but she was rest- 
less and unhappy in her new surroundings, and the child- 
ish nerves had been sadly overstrained by the morning’s 
experiences. Pete had been brought over, but she missed 
the care that had been ever present. “ Papa ! papa ! ” 
she wailed, until Absalom felt his own heart breaking 
with her baby grief. 

Preparations for immediate departure had evidently 
been made by David Preston on the preceding night. 
The books were packed and placed beside a small iron- 
bound box, which was securely locked. The men sur- 
mised that this contained papers of value, and a key 
found in the dead man’s pocket was laid away carefully 
for future use. Having made these preparations, it would 
seem that Mr. Preston had laid down to rest beside his 
little daughter, and had fallen into the sleep that knows 
no earthly waking. A look of ineffable peace was on his 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


25 


face. The thin, worn features had lost their haggard, 
troubled expression, as if for him all perplexing, harrow- 
ing problems had been joyfully solved. His right hand 
was clenched over his heart, as though a fierce spasm had 
rent the silver cord and broken the golden bowl. But 
it had left no trace upon his countenance. Perhaps a 
beatific vision brought obliviousness of physical agony 
in the last supreme moment of earthly existence. David 
Preston had indeed gone home by a shining way that 
needed no golden key. 

For him all trial was past. But Bessie, poor little 
orphaned Bessie ! What was to become of her ? To be 
sure, she had devoted friends in all the miners, every one 
of whom would do his best to serve her. Yet it was piti- 
ful, such a baby alone in the mountains with men to 
whom home comforts were an almost forgotten dream. 

“ Jest the luck, an’ nary woman in this ere camp ! ” 
muttered Absalom, as he awkwardly tried to attend to 
Bessie’s varied wants. To put on her clothing was 
almost as perplexing as a Chinese puzzle, to say nothing 
of the other care needed. He devoted himself altogether 
to her welfare, while the others prepared for the inter- 
ment of the dead. It was not thought best to allow 
Bessie to see her father again, lest it should awaken her 
terror and her longing for him anew. 

They were by no means a religious folk, these miners 
in Fortune Gulch. They had always borne the reputa- 


26 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


tion of being as hard a set as there was in this part of 
the mountains. They could swear, gamble, and drink, 
holding their own with any of their neighbors. That is, 
they could do this before the advent of David Preston 
and Baby Bessie. Even yet, they were by no means 
transformed, but there had been a gradual uplifting. 
Jem Flanigan, the keeper of the Fortune Gulch saloon, 
was the only one in all the camp who bore a grudge 
against the new-comers. In the lack of other diversions, 
he had reaped rich harvests each winter, scraping the 
hard-won gold dust of the miners into his greedy till. 
He had been at considerable pains to furnish amusement 
for these rough-and-tumble customers during the months 
of enforced idleness, expecting a usurious rate of interest 
for all trouble and outlay in the increased sale of his 
fiery compounds. The camp was continually changing. 
Few of the California miners stayed long in a place; but 
Jem Flanigan was always on hand in his chosen den, his 
nets spread for the present inhabitants of the cabins, who- 
ever they might be. The unusual richness of the diggings 
gave Fortune Gulch a reputation that always insured 
a full camp. In the winter, those who had made their 
“ pile ” went to the States to see their friends, or to the 
cities to spend, most probable, their entire season’s gains 
in riotous living. The steady, saving miner was a rare 
individual. 

In the coming of David Preston, Jem Flanigan, for 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


27 


the first time, found a rival. In Apple Jack’s humble 
cabin, Baby Bessie held nightly court for a circle of 
admiring worshipers. Her pure innocence and childish 
loveliness dulled the appetite of the men for the coarser 
attractions of the saloon, with its liquors, and its atmos- 
phere that savored of the pit. 

A grave was dug beneath the beautiful pines that 
sheltered David Preston’s late dwelling. When one of 
their own number had been killed in a drunken brawl, 
it was only consistent to bury him out of the way as 
speedily as possible. But it seemed very different in this 
case. The savor the man’s brief life had left behind it 
made them reluctant to bury him without a word of 
prayer over his grave. An old prayer book that had 
been drifting about the camp was brought to light, and 
Ginger, the best reader of them all, essayed to read the 
burial service. With much stumbling, and strange ren- 
derings of unfamiliar words, this was done, and rever- 
ently the rude pine box was covered from sight. 

In perfect silence, save for the noise of the shovels at 
work, the grave was filled up, and quietly the men dis- 
persed, feeling as if Fortune Gulch was not quite deserted 
by God, with this prayer-blessed grave within its borders. 
The mountains stood as sentinels over the last resting 
place of the weary man, but no longer were they hopeless 
barriers, for his soul had soared above and beyond them 
into the mysteries of the infinite. 


28 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


In one sense, his prayer had been answered, and he had 
gone home. Doubtless, in the clear light of the beyond 
he understood the meaning of God’s dealings with him 
and his, and was content to know that out of all the trial 
and loss, the strange circumstances in which his child 
had been left would come for her a blessed fruition in 
after years ; that to her tiny hand was given to lead lost- 
souls up through the darkness and gloom to the light 
and joy that come from a knowledge of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

All the rest of that day a solemn silence rested upon 
the camp. It was a significant fact that not an oath was 
heard from the lips of these men who had laid David 
Preston in his grave — men whose every sentence was 
usually spiced with profanity. Surely these rough, sin- 
hardened souls had been drawn nearer to the Father of 
all through the sacrifice of this man’s life ! 

For once, Jem Flanigan’s saloon was deserted. After 
the scenes of the day there was small desire for the rough 
attractions he could offer. Such utter solitude was some- 
thing new in his experience, and it was not at all to his 
liking. He had a pleasant way with him when not 
crossed, and the men little realized what a demon of a 
revengeful spirit slept within his bosom, hard to quell 
when once aroused. Circumstances were beginning to 
waken it at this time, and if the miners had known all 
that would follow, they might have thought it best, for 


FOKTUSE GULCH. 


29 


Bessie’s sake, to conciliate him. But they did not know, 
and left him to reflect in savage mood upon their deser- 
tion. Most of them were in Absalom’s cabin, where 
Bessie, diverted and happy, was having a gay romp with 
Pete, while Absalom watched her with a heavy heart. 
What was to be done with the child ? The others were 
dwelling upon the same thought, and discussed it in low 
tones. Never had such a problem been presented to 
them to solve. Was ever a little waif in stranger plight? 

An examination of David Preston’s effects revealed 
the fact that there was very little save the books, the box 
of papers, a single change of clothing for Bessie, and a 
few ounces of gold dust, besides the modest housekeeping 
outfit, the ox and cow, and the wagon. The papers were 
brought to Absalom’s cabin for safe keeping, but the 
other things, for lack of room, were left in the rude cabin 
where David Preston had lived and died. The animals 
were kept in the little shelter prepared for them until it 
might be decided what disposition should be made of 
them. The men went about with the air of people 
burdened with grave responsibilities. It would be im- 
possible for one, devoid of any experience of the kind, 
to exactly form an idea of the situation in which they 
found themselves. Most of them had been long absent 
from home. Some of them could scarcely remember 
when it was they had gone out from it. All of them had 
suffered from the demoralizing influences under which 


30 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


they had come, but were not so far down as to be uncon- 
scious of the fact. And now to have this bright, inno- 
cent baby-girl committed, in such an unlooked-for and 
solemn way, to their charge, — the situation was unexam- 
pled and baffling in the extreme. How r should they meet 
the demands the circumstances had created ? 


CHAPTER IV. 


A PERPLEXING PROBLEM. 

mHE evening after David Preston’s burial, the entire 
camp assembled, by appointment, in the cabin of 
Absalom and Bill Myers. The question of the child’s 
immediate future was to be decided. The combination 
of circumstances made the situation an exceedingly per- 
plexing one. 

Bessie, bright-eyed and happy, was sitting for a while 
on Absalom’s knee. Soon, wearied by the enforced quiet, 
with no chance for a romp, she fell asleep, and Absalom 
laid her gently in his bunk. 

The discussion was an earnest one. All present evinced 
a kindly feeling for the little orphan, but the right con- 
clusion was hard to reach. Jem Flanigan was there, 
ready with a proposition, but withheld it until he could 
see the drift of affairs. When he thought the right 
moment had come, he said briskly, like a man whose 
mind is quite made up : 

“ I’ll ’dopt the child, pards. I’ll take good care of her 
too, dress her like a lady, and keep her where any of you 
can see her any time you want to. Isn’t that a fair 
offer?” 


31 


32 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


His motive to gain a superior attraction for the saloon 
was patent to every man there ; and the idea of her inno- 
cent loveliness in that gate of hell, fired them all with 
fierce indignation. A murmur of stern and unmistakable 
disapprobation arose. Bill Myers voiced the general 
sentiment by saying : 

“ No, Jem Flanigan, while I’m above ground, this yer 
innercent baby don’t go inter your place, nor any other 
like it. Ye get our money, an’ make devils of us, but 
here’s one thing ye can’t get, nohow. My pard’s got 
sumthin’ ter say, ef I ain’t mistaken, sumthin’ thet Bill 
Myers says amen to, every time.” 

Jem Flanigan’s hand was on his pistol, and a fierce oath 
escaped his lips. But Absalom rose, and said, quietly : 

“ Put up yer shootin’ iron, Jem, an’ keep yer swarin’ 
fur sumwhar outside this yer cabin. Its our fault ef 
ye’ve made beasts of us, so don’t take offense.” 

He turned, and drew back the blanket from Bessie, 
who was sweetly sleeping. 

“ Thet little angel, pards,” he said, in a broken voice, 
“ kum right inter my arms when I found her cryin’ by 
her dead father. I kin hear her now, when everythin’ is 
still. She tuk right up with me, rough an’ ugly as I be. 
She loves ole Absalom, an’ while I live she shell stay 
with me, till the folks thet’s a right to her claims their 
own. Winter is most here, an’ I don’t see no way of 
gittin’ her to her folks at present.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


33 


“ Ther’s orphan ’sylums in ’Frisco,” suggested Ginger. 

“No orphint ’sylum fur my baby, while Absalom’s 
alive. Ther’s no knowin’ what they’d do with her down 
ther. When I’ve struck my pile, I’ll find her folks, ef I 
kin. Till then, pards, she’s mine.” 

“No, Absalom,” exclaimed Bill Myers, “she's ourn 
fur this ere winter, anyhow. She’ll be the light an’ 
blessin’ of the camp.” 

And so it was arranged. Absalom was recognized as 
Bessie’s guardian, while every man, save Jem Flanigan, 
felt himself bound to do all in his power to make the wee 
maiden’s stay during the weary winter just ahead of 
them, as bright as possible. All things for the child’s 
comfort were moved over from the other cabin to her new 
home. As has been seen, the precious box of papers had 
been removed before. The bag of gold dust, which was 
to have given freedom to David Preston and his child, 
was laid away, by universal consent, for her future 
needs. 

It was decided that the team and wagon should be kept 
for the use of the camp. The cow was needed to furnish 
milk for the child, and as sufficient feed had been brought 
up from below for their use through the winter, they 
would be no additional expense. Absalom built a little 
shelter behind his cabin for “ Hornie,” as the little cow 
was called, that she might be at hand, while the others 

agreed to look after “Tige.” A rough shed, covered 

c 


34 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


with pine boughs, protected the wagon from the weather. 
All other things belonging to David Preston were stored 
in his old cabin. 

At last, everything was arranged and the camp settled 
down for the winter. Bessie had times of crying pitifully 
for papa, but as the weeks passed away, she grew quite 
contented. Pete was a great source of delight. The men 
too, turned into the jolliest of playfellows. It was won- 
derful how the moral tone of the camp was changing. 
Absalom was a strict guardian. It was understood that 
not an oath was allowed in the child’s presence. The 
language of the men became cleaner, and their thoughts 
purer. Of course, they did not reform at once, nor 
altogether. The long-indulged craving for Jem Flani- 
gan’s liquors was not removed. The men still drank 
more or less. But now the saloon was not the only place 
of resort to help along in the general effort to kill time. 
As Absalom would not leave Bessie, except when it was 
absolutely necessary, it became quite the fashion to play 
checkers or other games in his cabin, a very different 
place from the old saloon. 

Jem Flanigan raged inwardly, but was too politic to 
show offense before the men. He cursed the child in his 
heart for coming between him and his gains. I am 
afraid if it had come in his way to do her physical harm, 
without danger of detection, he would have done it. 
Absalom alone perceived that he held a grudge because 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


35 


of his failure to secure Bessie, and his watchful guardian- 
ship never relaxed its vigilance. 

One day, Bill Myers brought out the little box of 
papers. 

“ P’raps we kin find out som’thin’ about whar Bessie 
belongs,” he said. “We hain’t no right to keep her 
here arter spring opens ef the facts kin be traced.” 

“That’s so, pard,” responded Absalom. “She’s of 
good fam’ly — I know the signs — like her father afore her. 
It’s mighty queer he never said a word so that we could 
know in case he wuz tuk off sudd in’. He had them spells 
with his heart, off an’ on, all the time. But I s’pose he 
woz so sot on takin’ her home hisself, that he just 
couldn’t bear to speak.” 

“ I allers shall think thar woz a mighty interestin’ 
story back of his cornin’ here,” Bill Myers went on to 
say. “ He warn’t no miner ; enybody with half an eye 
cud see that.” 

All this time he had been undoing the fastenings of 
the box, and having done this, he inserted the key that 
had been taken from the pocket of David Preston after 
his death. It fitted perfectly, and presently the lid was 
lifted, disclosing neatly arranged papers and letters. 
Some were business-like, importbnt-looking documents; 
while carefully wrapped, was a daguerreotype of a lovely 
woman. There was writing on the wrapper, but neither 
of the men was scholar enough to read what it said. 


36 FORTUNE GULCH. 

For the same reason, they could make little of the 
papers. 

“ There’s not a man in camp thet’s lamin’ enough to 
read them ere papers,” said Absalom, except it’s Jem 
Flanigan, an’ I wouldn’t trust ’em in his hands fur all 
the gold dust I could wash out in a year. Put ’em back, 
pard, and in the spring I’ll take ’em to Sacramento, an’ 
git some lawyer chap to tend to it fur Bessie.” 

“ Jem cud do it,” said Bill Myers, thoughtfully, as he 
carefully replaced the papers and picture. “ He’s allers 
ready to write letters fur the men as can’t do it fur 
themselves.” 

“ Yes, ’cause there’s a little gain in it, an’ it gives him 
a chance to larn all ’bout yer affairs too. I’m bound he 
don’t have the handlin’ of this yer matter, ennyhow.” 

The bag of gold dust, the contribution of the men to 
send the Prestons East, and which had reverted to 
Bessie, augmented by the amount found among his 
effects, was put in and locked up with the papers. 

“Thar,” said Absalom, “that shall take the lamb 
home to her people, ef we kin find out whar they are. 
But it’ll well-nigh break my heart to give her up. I 
hain’t no kith nor kin that I knows on in the world, an’ 
she’s jest taken the place of all on ’em.” 

The winter rains on the plains of California are snows 
in the mountains, often falling deeply and heavily. 
Then come the terrible avalanches, which thunder down 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


37 


the slopes, overwhelming everything in their course, be 
it unwary travelers, or human habitations. The dwellers 
at Fortune Gulch often heard their deep roar, but so 
sheltered was the group of cabins by overhanging rocks, 
that they had little fear of such a catastrophe as being 
buried alive. Yet fresh meat for the camp was obtain- 
able only by hunting ; and expeditions of this sort were 
attended with danger. But the men, weary of the con- 
finement and inactivity, gladly took turns in going out 
after game. Many were the stories told of hair-breadth 
escapes, not only from snow-slides and slippery trails, but 
also from the fierce grizzlies and mountain lions. 

Absalom had formerly been among the boldest and 
most successful of the hunters. This was his second 
winter at Fortune Gulch, but now he could not be per- 
suaded to try his luck. 

“ No, pards,” he would say, when urged to go and 
leave Bessie with the kind-hearted and obliging Bill 
Myers, “ the little gal needs me, an’ ef I should git taken 
off, she would be left alone agin. You would all be good 
to her, but seem’ ez I’ve ’dopted her, I’m goin’ to try an’ 
hang by till sumthin’ better turns up fur the child. I’ll 
buy ammunition fur the rest on ye to shoot, ef ye’ll let 
me off from doin’ any of the shootin’.” 

Absalom’s reason was satisfactory, and he was left to 
stay by his charge in peace. The winter was a severe 
one for California. The snow fell to almost unheard-of 


38 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


depths, and roaring fires were necessary to keep the 
cabins comfortably warm. But Bessie was allowed to 
feel no discomfort. The cabin had been patched up 
until it kept out quite effectually the cold, searching 
wind. Pete seemed to understand his duty, and was 
almost human in his intelligence. She had rude toys in 
abundance, carved out for her amusement by her willing 
servants, the miners. Besides all, she was naturally a 
bright, sunny-hearted child, and under the watchful ten- 
derness of Absalom, realized nothing of her strange, 
anomalous position. 

The chief anxiety of this faithful guardian was in 
regard to Jem Flanigan. The old miner, like many of 
his kind, was a shrewd reader of character, and a close 
observer of those about him. In Jem’s effusive flatteries, 
he detected a false note ; and on one occasion, when the 
saloon-keeper had come to the cabin on some ostensible 
errand, he caught his eye fixed on the child with an 
expression of revenge and hate, even while his lips were 
smiling and framing playful words. Bessie shrank from 
him as from none of the others, and this intensified the 
bitter feeling in his heart against her. For some reason, 
best known to himself, he tried to win her liking ; he 
brought her sweetmeats such as none of the rest could 
give ; but warned by some instinct, the little one would 
have nothing to do with him. 

As he turned to go, his eyes shot forth such a look of 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


39 


baffled rage, that Absalom resolved to watch her more 
closely than ever. After Jem Flanigan had gone, he 
threw every one of the sweets in the stove, fearing that 
some harm lurked in them for his darling. Bessie had 
innocently made an unscrupulous and powerful enemy, 
and Absalom realized that he would have need of all his 
wits if he kept the little girl safe from the wiles of her 
adversary. Never had he so longed for the spring, and 
winter’s reign was but fairly begun. He confided his 
trouble of mind to Bill Myers. That individual only 
laughed at his fears. 

“ Sho, pard, yer gittin’ as fanciful as a woman over 
that baby. What could Jem Flanigan hev agin an 
innercent like that? Yer surely off the track this time, 
pard.” 

But Absalom knew better. He said no more to Bill, 
keeping the matter in his own heart. His vigilance was 
unceasing, for he felt sure that a blow of some sort would 
fall, sooner or later. If it was within human power, he 
would guard her from it. His loving, faithful soul was 
sore distraught. He wished, sometimes, that he was 
“ ’quainted ” with David Preston’s God, that he might 
ask for help stronger than his own. But he did not 
know the way to the throne, and so he watched on alone. 

It is singular how men are led. What strange instru- 
ments God uses, and in what unexpected ways. Absalom 
watched on alone, and yet somehow that prattling baby 


40 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


that filled his rude cabin with an unwonted music, made 
him feel at times that he was not watching alone. Some- 
how he felt that the God with whom Mr. Preston was 
“ ’quainted ” would not forget his offspring. So, though 
formally he could not find his way into the King’s pres- 
ence, and would have scouted the idea of his trying to do 
so, he was comforted a little by his intangible thoughts, 
which were in themselves a prayer. 


CHAPTER V. 


CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS. 

H OLIDAY seasons are not much observed in the 
mining camps, save as excuses for prolonged 
carousing. The spirit of them is forgotten in the wild 
carnival. Christmastide brings no suggestion of its holy- 
associations, unless to hearts linked by ties of worthy 
kindred in far-away homes. But this winter a new order 
of things seemed to reign in Fortune Gulch. Scarcely 
had December begun, than the camp decided that Bessie 
must have a Christmas tree. 

The California miner rarely does things by halves. 

In his generous impulses, as well as in his wickedness, he 
shows a lavish hand. In this enterprise there were 
peculiar difficulties in the way. Mountain resources are 
limited, especially in winter. But a few determined souls 
can accomplish wonders in spite of obstacles. So 
absorbed did they become in planning something worthy 
of the occasion, that Jem Flanigan was less necessary 
than ever as a caterer of amusements. 

The saloon-keeper was shrewd, and saved his popularity 
with the majority of the men by entering with a great show 

of enthusiasm into the scheme. He so managed that the * 

41 


42 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


talk and planning should be, for the most part, at his 
own place. As Absalom would not leave Bessie, Jem 
Flanigan gained a controlling power in the matter 
almost before he knew it, and the other men were blind 
to his real motives. Bessie’s guardian was in sore per- 
plexity. He knew he could not convince the rest of 
Jem’s duplicity with the proofs he had to offer, since he 
had so signally failed with Bill Myers. 

He felt as if the toils were gathering about his helpless 
charge, and he alone realized her danger. And really, 
he himself could not have told what he feared. An 
intangible something threatened her, he was assured, but 
the men would scout his fears, should he express them, as 
fanciful. 

It was finally arranged that a Christmas tree should be 
placed in the saloon, which was really the only room in 
all the place large enough for the purpose. Ginger, 
and a Scotchman they called Bob Burns, presumably in 
honor of his famous countryman and poet, volunteered 
to go down to Monte Christo, when the weather and state 
of the trails would admit, and buy the best assortment of 
gifts they could find. A fund was subscribed for this 
purpose, of which Jem Flanigan gave twice as much as 
any of the men. Absalom was unable to fathom his 
deep-laid scheme, but remembering the look of malice 
and hate, was convinced of its existence. He might 
refuse to let Bessie go on the grand occasion, but that 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


43 


would never do, for it would not only alienate the men 
on whom he must rely in case of trouble, but give Jem 
Flanigan a plausible excuse for open hostility. 

Poor Absalom! It seemed to him that fate had 
placed him in the strangest plight. He, grizzly, rough, 
and wicked as he was, in charge of such a cherub ! He 
laughed aloud at the thought, but there was little merri- 
ment in the laugh. The situation was too grave. Bessie 
had entwined herself about his heart strings as the only 
thing within his memory that had ever loved him ; and 
it might be that even he would be powerless to keep her 
from harm, though he would gladly have laid his life 
down for her sake. 

Then he began thinking about her father, and the two 
prayers he had heard. 

“ David Preston woz on speakin’ terms with the Lord,” 
he said to himself. “ Mebbe ef I woz thet, he could help 
me in this ere thing. It passes my time o’ day ! ” And 
the old miner scratched his head in a puzzled, reflective 
manner. 

Two weeks before Christmas, beautiful weather came. 
The sun shone brightly, the winds were hushed, and the 
snow was in the right condition for traveling. Winter 
journeying in the mountains is always dangerous, but in 
such weather the danger is the least. The two men ap- 
pointed set out for Monte Christo early one Monday 
morning. Just before starting, Jem Flanigan called Gin- 


44 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


ger into the inner room of the saloon, and gave him a 
letter to post in the town. A few minutes later, the men 
were on their way, none of the miners left in Fortune 
Gulch knowing aught of the letter entrusted to their 
messenger. 

The trip was a hard one, and would take them the 
greater part of the day. The next would be spent in 
resting, and in executing their commission ; so that no 
one expected them back before Wednesday night, at the 
earliest. 

In the meantime, the weather changed. Tuesday 
morning they awoke to find a chill wind blowing from off 
the Pacific, surcharged with moisture, which, at that high 
elevation, must fall in snow. All day Wednesday the 
gray pall overhung the mountains. But as it did not 
really snow, only in gusty, intermittent fashion, the For- 
tune Gulch miners did not feel great anxiety about their 
comrades, confidently expecting to see them by night- 
fall. 

But the grayness turned to blackness, and the night 
wore into midnight, and still the absent ones did not 
come. When the morning dawned, a fierce storm was 
raging, and deep concern filled all their minds. 

“ Mebbe they got ez fur ez Pietown Gulch,” said Bill 
Myers. “ That’s half-way, ye know, an’ they kin wait 
over thar till the storm’s over, and the trail’s so they kin 
git over it.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


45 


“ To be sure,” responded Absalom ; “ but bow kin we 
be sure they’ve reached Pietown at all ? ” 

“ It’s no use tryin ter look fur ’em in this ere tempest,” 
said Dick Nolan, one of the miners who had dropped 
into Absalom’s cabin. 

“ Ginger an’ Bob Burns ’ud git through, ef enybody 
c’ud,” remarked Bill Myers. “ Ef a snow-slide ain’t 
struck ’em, they’ll be here.” 

For three days the tempest raged. Such a storm could 
scarcely be remembered by the oldest mountaineer of 
them all. The roar of the avalanches echoed here 
and there above the roar of the elements. The hearts 
of the men at Fortune Gulch grew heavy with anxiety 
for their absent mates. 

On the fourth day the sun shone out once more. The 
wind had fallen, but the deep snows had filled the trails 
and hung in threatening masses on the sides of the mount- 
ains. Every tree bore its load of shining whiteness, and 
the wild Sierra region was transformed as by a magician’s 
wand. 

If aught could have been accomplished by going in 
search of the missing ones, brave hearts would have been 
ready for the undertaking. But the trails were oblite- 
rated, and nothing could be done but to wait. Certain 
death awaited the daring wayfarer on the mountains in 
this overwhelming depth of snow. Bill Myers was firm 
in his belief in the sagacity of the men, insisting that 


46 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


they were in safe quarters, only delaying until the trails 
were passable. 

Just a week later, Ginger and Bob Burns, looking 
weary and worn, came into camp. Theirs was a strange 
story of detention and mishap. They had been pre- 
vented from leaving Monte Christo until noon bn the 
Wednesday they were due at home ; but they pushed on, 
intending to reach Pietown Gulch, if possible, before 
night. Each had a heavy load, and it was hard travel- 
ing. A snow-slide directly across the trail detained them 
some hours, making a detour necessary ; and nearly ex- 
hausted and frozen, they reached the half-way camp about 
dark. Then the storm came, and made them prisoners, 
as Bill Myers had conjectured ; and when at last they 
had ventured to start homeward, the way was still well- 
nigh impassable. Their snow-shoes had enabled them to 
cross the drifts, but they were in constant danger of taking 
false steps, which would plunge them down the precipices, 
while so many snow-slides were falling around them, 
that they despaired of ever getting to camp alive. But 
here they were, and Bessie should have her Christmas, 
after all. 

“ Little the baby ’ll ’predate what her Christmas ’ll 
cost,” said Bill Myers to Ginger, as they sat by the stove 
in Jem Flanigan’s saloon. 

“ She’s welcome to my part of the costin’,” Ginger an- 
swered, heartily. “ But we thought, more’n once, ez fur 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


47 


as the Christmas doin’s depended on us, it ’d be a mighty- 
slim showin’.” 

Ginger and Bob Burns had indeed brought a great va- 
riety of treasures from Monte Christo at the peril of their 
lives. There was no lack of trees in the immediate 
vicinity, and on Christmas day a finely shaped evergreen 
was placed in position in the saloon, and the men enjoyed 
greatly the rare privilege of decorating it, and hanging 
the various things brought up from Monte Christo. J em 
had carried out his purpose of having his place the central 
point of interest, but the men, absorbed in their new oc- 
cupation, quite forgot to refresh themselves as often as 
usual at the convenient bar. 

When evening came, the tree stood laden with its 
pretty fruit. When all things were ready, a deputation 
was sent to escort Baby Bessie to the wonderful festal 
scene arranged in her honor. As she had no warmer 
head gear than the little sunbonnet she had worn on her 
first arrival at Fortune Gulch, Absalom wrapped her 
well in a blanket, and carried her in his arms— most re- 
luctantly, it must be confessed — to the Christmas tree in 
Jem Flanigan’s saloon. 

They all watched her eagerly as Absalom threw off 
the protecting blanket and held her up to view the won- 
derful sight. She gazed in speechless surprise for a 
moment ; then, clapping her tiny hands, her voice rang 
out, gleefully : “ Pretty ! pretty ! ” Then her arms were 


48 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


stretched out toward it, oh, so longingly ! for there on the 
topmost bough was a lovely doll, almost as large as her- 
self, dressed, and smiling down upon her like a living 
playmate. Her delight roused her friends to w T ild enthu- 
siasm. First, the big doll was placed in her arms. She 
kissed it again and again, held it off to get a better view, 
then fell to hugging and kissing it, as if suddenly awak- 
ened to her former loneliness. Then, as she sat in Absa- 
lom’s lap, the treasures were heaped about her. Toys of 
every description, a warm cloak and hood, a gold neck- 
lace, candies by the wholesale, till the little maiden was 
fairly bewildered by the extent of her possessions. Ab- 
sorbed in watching her delight, the men did not take note 
of Jem Flanigan’s brief absence from the scene. Yet he 
slipped away out into the darkness, like the beast of prey 
that his wicked heart fitted him to be. His purpose 
accomplished, he slipped back among the merry crowd. 

After the tree had been despoiled of its load, Bessie 
sat contemplating her new acquisitions for a little space ; 
then, slipping down from Absalom’s knee, and taking a 
mug full of candy, she traveled around the room, gravely 
laying a piece in each man’s hand. It seemed as if the 
child realized in some dim fashion that Christmas shared 
is doubly Christmas. The sweet graciousness of her 
manner took them all by storm. Tears were in some 
eyes. “ Bless the baby ! ” “ The idea uv hur a dividin’ 
with us ! ” and like expressions, were heard on every 






























































































































































































































































































































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Page 48. 










FORTUNE GULCH. 


49 


hand. The child had given them all a glimpse of the 
real Christmas joy, and a sweeter lesson could hardly 
have been brought to their hearts. Bessie was God’s 
messenger to this mountain camp, drawing the souls of 
these hardened men nearer the source of all purity and 
truth. 

Emotion grew strong in Bill Myers’ heart, and he rose 
to make a speech. 

“ Pards,” he said, “I jest believe I’m asleep an’ 
dreamin’ ! Six months ago, eny man thet hed a 
prophesied sech a Christmas in this ere camp ’ud hev got 
knocked on the head fur his pains. Fortune Gulch is a 
good ways off from God A’mighty, but sence he’s remem- 
bered us, an’ sent this ere little angel, we’re gittin’ nearer 
home. Hev ye all furgot how to sing, boys? Jine in 
the chorus, ef ye can’t do no more.” And in a rich 
baritone, Bill Myers struck up : 

“ ’Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, 

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” 

His pronunciation savored of the mines, but the melody 
came out true and strong. Several voices joined him, 
and when they came to the chorus, 

“Home, home, sweet, sweet homel” 

some of the voices broke, and some faces in the company 
looked as if they were beholding the ghosts of departed 
joys. 

D 


50 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


But the occasion was taking a very different turn from 
what Jem Flanigan had purposed. Sentiment and tendei 
associations were not helpful to his line of business. 
With a half sneer, he said, attempting a jocular manner: 

“ Come, boys, this is no way to keep Christmas. The 
little gal has had her time, now let us have ours, a 
regular old-time jamboree, without sniffling and psalm 
singinh I’ll stand treat to the hull crowd.” 

Absalom, rising, put the pretty hood and cloak on 
Bessie, who laughed delightedly. 

“ It’s time the child was asleep, pards,” he said. “ Ef 
ye’ll excuse me, I’ll take her home.” 

“ Queen Bess! Queen Bess!” they shouted. “We 
will all take her home!” And greatly to Jem’s rage, 
the entire party left to escort the baby, whose power in 
the camp rivaled his own. 

He shook his fist at the departing group. 

“ Never mind, little lady,” he hissed between his shut 
teeth. “ I’ve carried out my plan in one thing to-night, 
and it’ll be many a long day afore that old hypocrite, 
Absalom, finds out where you belong.” 

A few of the party returned, and there was some drink- 
ing. But the wild Christmas carousal, for which Jem 
Flanigan had hoped and planned, with its guilt and 
debasing influence, was mercifully spared to Fortune 
Gulch by the simple presence of a little child. Already 
the investment the miners had made, led by feelings of 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


51 


humanity toward a little child, was making a rich return. 
They had no thought of this. Any suggestion that they 
were getting better pay than when washing the precious 
dust from the shining sand, would have been laughed at. 
And yet they were getting returns as much better as man- 
hood is better than money. 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE MISSING PAPERS. 

P ERHAPS we shall understand Absalom’s relation to 
Bessie more clearly if we pause for a glimpse at 
his history. He was a character, unique even among the 
many queer types found among the pioneer Californian 
miners. He once had a name that pertained to civiliza- 
tion, but it had dropped from him so long before, that it 
is doubtful whether he himself could have recalled it 
without an effort. For thirty years he had been knock- 
ing around the world, and he had come to California in 
the first wild rush for the gold diggings. Bereft of father 
and mother, he had been a pauper boy in his childhood, 
experiencing all the bitterness that falls to the lot of those 
“ bound out ” by the town. His master had been a hard- 
hearted, close-fisted old farmer, with a still stonier wife, 
who meant that the full value of meagre fare and scanty 
clothing should be wrung from the boy over whom the 
law gave him full control. 

Such an awkward, tall, scrawny lad as he wa& ! His 
clothes, always either too large or too small, enhanced his 
air of being generally disreputable, and not a soul was 
found to give the boy a sympathetic, kindly word. When 
52 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


53 


he was fifteen, smarting under an undeserved and brutal 
whipping, he ran away, and the scenes of his childhood 
knew him no more. 

Since that time he had literally been a waif. For men 
with no ties of kindred or affection become as truly waifs of 
humanity as friendless children. In the stern battle for 
existence he had learned to be shrewd and calculating. 
With no safeguards against vice, he learned to do as 
his fellows did — drink, gamble, swear, and on occasion 
fight. He was naturally good-natured, but when angered 
was swift to action, and his fellow-miners learned to re- 
spect his physical courage and power. 

His master had always compelled him to wear his hair 
closely shaven ; and when he had made himself the arbiter 
of his own fate, he vowed his hair should grow long, in 
memory of the indignities to which he had been sub- 
jected. That it exposed him to remark, or ridicule, he 
cared not. Early in his history as a California miner he 
had been dubbed Absalom ; certainly not for his manly 
beauty, but on account of his flowing locks. As he 
wished to drop his old name with his old life, this suited 
him as well as anything, and the soubriquet had clung 
to him through all the years. 

It must have been that Absalom had been originally 
possessed of a brave, generous heart, else after all this 
cruel time of soul-hardening, Bessie would not have 
touched his better nature as she did. Little she cared 


54 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


that his hair was long, unkempt, and streaked with gray ; 
that his face was as rugged as the mountains, and his tall, 
ungainly form somewhat stooping. Her childish intuition 
went straight to the heart of things, and her absolute 
trust in Absalom’s faithfulness was not betrayed. Under 
happier auspices, the boy would have grown up a rare, 
tender soul ; but even in this late autumn, the Father per- 
mitted a childish hand to start into life the delayed blos- 
soming. It was gradual, but in the fulness of time it was 
made evident to the world. 

Bessie slept well after the unusual excitement of Christ- 
mas night. Absalom was conscious of a great sense of 
relief, as he saw her safely at rest with her doll close be- 
side her. A load was lifted from his heart, and he was 
half inclined to laugh at his own fears. But he could 
not banish them altogether. He understood Jem Flani- 
gan too well to believe that he would lightly lay aside a 
grudge once taken. 

Bessie was very happy with her new possessions. She 
had been bountifully remembered, and many a child in 
more favored localities would have envied her abundance. 
Her doll w T as her chief treasure. She would talk and 
sing to it by the hour, quite neglecting poor Pete, who 
looked as mournful as if he had lost a friend. 

“ Never mind, ole feller ! ” said Bill Myers, consolingly. 
“ She’ll cum back ter ye agin. Its the natur of woman- 
kind to be tuk up w T ith sumthin’ new. But she’ll find 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


55 


thet a livin’ playfeller’s better than a make-believe, arter 
all.” 

This kindly bit of philosophy failed to comfort poor 
Pete, who was desolate at losing the first place in his lit- 
tle mistress’ affections. 

The winter passed on, and soon there were signs of the 
coming spring. Absalom and Bill Myers talked much 
of the proposed visit to Sacramento, and the light that 
they hoped would be thrown on Bessie’s history and be- 
longings. One day in March, when the blustering wind 
was making all the uproar possible, Absalom took a fancy 
that he would like to examine the box of papers once 
more. It had been placed under Bessie’s bunk to be out 
of the way, with no thought of concealment, for miners 
were proverbially honest, and there could be no motive 
for any of them to interfere with it. He stooped down to 
reach it, but it was gone. He rubbed his eyes, thinking 
they must have played him false. Yet nowhere could it 
be found, although Bill Myers bestirred himself to aid in 
the search. 

Absalom was overwhelmed. The loss was beyond ex- 
pression. Without the papers, Bessie was, indeed, a lost 
waif, stranded on the California mountains, with no clue 
to her home, her friends, her history. 

He sat down and tried to think. He remembered see- 
ing the box on Christmas morning, but not since that 
time. Who could have had any motive in taking it? 


56 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


To be sure, the bag of gold was there, as all the men 
knew ; but who among them would rob the baby ? One 
name came with persistent reiteration to his mind — Jem 
Flanigan. He, and he alone, had been guilty of this thing. 

His only chance for the theft had been on the night of 
the Christmas tree. He could have easily absented him- 
self during the excitement long enough to secure the 
box, and return without having been missed. 

Thus did Absalom reason the matter out to himself. 
With his head bowed in his hands, the chain of thought 
went on. 

The existence of the papers, and their importance as 
regarded Bessie’s future, had been a favorite subject of 
discussion among the men. Indeed, Jem had once offered 
to read them for Absalom, but he had declined, saying 
that he was going to put the whole matter in a lawyer’s 
hands, who could attend to the entire business. 

Then Absalom remembered a visitor to the camp, as 
soon after Christmas as the trails were safe ; a man who 
was half trapper, half Jew, and altogether a villain in ap- 
pearance, and evidently an old acquaintance and pal of 
Jem Flanigan’s. Had Bessie’s guardian known of the 
letter carried by Ginger to Monte Christo, the chain of 
evidence would have been complete to his mind. But 
this link was wanting in his knowledge, although he 
shrewdly suspected that the fellow’s visit had something 
to do with the missing papers. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


57 


In his own heart, he was firmly convinced that the 
saloon-keeper had sought this method of revenge, and 
righteous indignation waxed hot within him. He could 
not contain himself, and laid his view of the matter before 
Bill Myers. That individual was at first incredulous. 
But Absalom’s intense conviction, and the chain of cir- 
cumstances placed before him, had their effect, and he be- 
came a convert to his partner’s opinion. 

Bill was never quick at coming to conclusions, but as 
he thought it all over, his wrath kindled. His natural 
caution served him in good stead at this juncture. 

“The villain,” he hissed, “ter rob a baby like thet ’ud 
take the devil hisself. But pard,” he continued, in a 
quieter tone, “ we must be keerful or he’ll dodge us, fur 
Jem is a sharp un. The boys ’ll hev to hev proofs afore 
they’ll take up this ere fight, an’ we’ve got to show ’em 
to a demonstration. Ef they’s onct convinced thet 
Jem’s the man, they’ll string him up quicker than he kin 
say his p’rars.” 

“ But we must find out what he’s done with the papers 
afore we choke off his wind fur good an’ all,” remarked 
Absalom. 

“ Sure, sure, he’s got to confess. But we must move 
mighty keerful, pard, an’ I don’t just see what to do, 
neither.” 

Bessie, unconscious of this crisis in her fate, was play- 
ing happily about the cabin. The shadows were gather- 


58 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


mg darkly about the horizon of her future, but blissfully 
ignorant of the impending peril, she sang her little songs, 
and put both Pete and the doll under tribute to her 
amusement. Absalom watched her, with a fierce pain 
gnawing at his heart. 

“ It’s a cruel thing, pard,” he said at length. “ It ’ud 
a been more marciful to hev tuk her innercent little life, 
than to hev spiled all her chances.” 

And it was, indeed, a deeper harm than mere physical 
injury would have been. To doom a pure, happy child 
to a dark and uncertain future, when love and a blessed 
home were awaiting her, was, as Bill Myers had said, an 
act worthy of the arch-fiend himself. 

Through the day, as opportunity offered, Bill Myers 
spoke privately to the men, one at a time, with injunctions 
to perfect secrecy. 

“ Thar’s to be a meetin’ at my cabin to-night. Say 
nothin’ to nobody, but gin three raps, an’ when the door 
opens, say ‘ Bess ’ as a password.” 

Bill’s grim face, as he delivered his message, was 
enough to assure the miners that something of unusual 
importance was on hand. Before night, every man in 
the camp, fifteen all told, had received his invitation, 
excepting, of course, Jem Flanigan. The saloon-keeper 
was uneasily conscious of a mysterious something in the 
air, but so great was the caution observed, he gained no 
hint of the actual facts in the case. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


59 


After dark, one at a time, the miners slipped into the 
cabin, each surprised to see so many present. Bessie was 
in her usual place on Absalom’s knee, while his face was 
gloomy and set. Bill Myers had lost none of his air of 
stern determination, and it was evident that weighty 
matters were on hand. Blankets were hung over the two 
windows, and at each rap, Bill opened the door a mere 
crack until the mention of the password proved the out- 
sider’s right to enter. 

A spell of silence seemed to have fallen upon them all. 
In absolute stillness each new-comer was admitted. There 
was no talking ; there was none of the usual exchange of 
the chaff of the mines. 

When all were assembled, Bill Myers addressed them. 
Through the long day, as he had mused over the matter, 
the fire had burned in his soul. 

“ Pards,” he said, in a low, deep voice of concentrated 
feeling, “ we hev in our midst a traitor an’ a thief. He 
hesn’t stole our gold, nor spiled our lives worse than 
killin’ of us outright. No, pards, this yer black villain 
didn’t rob folks his own size, thet cud shoot back an’ 
send him to his master, the devil. He hez robbed our 
baby, stolen the papers thet woz worth mor’n twice their 
weight in gold ; the papers thet woz to hev told us whar 
to find her folks and her home. The bag of gold dust 
ye all gin her father thet’s dead an’ buried, is gone too, 
pards ; but thet’s nothin’ side o’ the papers.” 


60 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


The men listened in blank astonishment. It was a 
hard thing for them to take in or understand. Presently 
Ginger strode to the front. His speech was blue with 
profanity ; but this was not surprising under the circum- 
stances. The only wonder was that Bill had been able to 
leave out the oaths, the usual intensifies of speech, labor- 
ing, as he was, under such excitement. But Absalom 
had insisted on clean talk in the presence of Bessie, and, 
unconsciously, he had been learning to leave off swearing. 

Ginger, in words well spiced, demanded to know whom 
Bill Myers had been driving at in his speech, swearing 
by all that was good and bad, that he should be sent 
where he belonged. 

“Tell the story, pard,” said Bill, turning to Absalom. 

Rising, with Bessie still in his arms, and drawing his 
tall form to its utmost height, he told the story in a 
simple, straightforward manner, and with an intense 
earnestness that carried conviction to every heart before 
him. Bob Burns interrupted him once to ask : 

“ An’ why should he hev a grudge again the bairn ? ” 

“Because, mates, she hurt his business. The worse 
brutes he cud make of us, the more gold dust thar woz 
in his till. Afore she cum, we hedn’t nary other place to 
pass away the time in when we wozn’t diggin’. We woz 
a goin’ down hill ez fast as his cussed liquor cud drive 
us. Sence Bess cum, we’ve been a growin’ more human- 
like, an’ thet didn’t suit Jem Flanigan, not a bit. Don’t 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


61 


ye remember how he tried to git Bess and keep her 
in the saloon ? He’s hed a big grudge ever sence he 
failed in thet ere thing. It’s my ’pinion thet he worked 
fur thet Christmas tree jest to git a chance at thet ere 
box. An’ besides, he ’lowed ef we woz all there, he cud 
turn it all into a big drunk, like ole times in the camp. 
He woz mighty riled when ye all turned out to bring our 
baby home. I seed him on’ct a looking at her. I told 
Bill all about it. But he couldn’t b’lieve it then. ’Twos 
when he woz here and guv Bess some sweets she wudn’t 
take. When he went out, unbeknownst to him I seed his 
eyes sot on her with a look like the look of the arch- 
fiend himself. I b’lieve he’d a killed her if he could. 
I made up my mind then to watch him close, and I 
b’lieve with all my soul he knows all about thet box.” 

“ Let’s tie him up, an’ turn his ole shebang wrong side 
out, an’ find the box,” suggested one of the men. 

“ I tell you, pards, the box ain’t nowhere round these 
diggin’s,” said Absalom, with positive emphasis. “ Don’t 
you remember ole Leviticus, thet rascally Jew thet woz 
up here arter Christmas, an’ mighty thick with Jem ? He 
tuk thet box to a safer place than this yer camp ’ud be, 
arter it woz missed. Iso, boys, thet’s no go.” 

The wrath of the men had reached white heat. They 
broke out into loud curses and threatenings. 

" Softly, softly, pards,” said Bill Myers. “Jem will 
find out we mean bizness quick ’nuff,” making a signifi- 


62 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


cant gesture around his neck. “ But we must work it 
keerful, an’ make him tell what he’s done with the 
papers.” 

Quiet once more reigned, but it was the quiet of men 
stern with determination. A leader was chosen, a rope 
procured, and noiselessly the group of miners, all save 
Absalom, filed from the cabin, straight to Jem Flanigan’s 
saloon. 


CHAPTER VII. 


A HASTY DEPARTURE. 

rPHE company of stern, determined men was on its 
way, purposing to be judge, jury, and executioner, 
all in one. For retribution is apt to be speedy in the 
mines. The processes of law were too uncertain and 
dilatory to suit men too far from courts to depend on 
their protection. Let belief in a man’s guilt take pos- 
session of the minds of his companions, and often he had 
brief time for shrift or prayer. A stout rope and a con- 
venient tree satisfied the claims of justice, and served to 
impress those that remained of the advisability of keep- 
ing carefully in the paths of rectitude, according to the 
frontier code of morals. 

Bill Myers was the leader of the party. They entered 
the saloon with faces on which Jem Flanigan might 
have read his doom, had he been there to see. But it 
was empty and deserted. The guilty man had fled. 

Jem Flanigan had not been easy in his mind since 
Christmas night, when, as Absalom had shown, he had 
slipped out in the excitement and purloined the box from 
the cabin. He knew the temper of the mining camps, 

and the swift vengeance that is apt to fall upon trans- 

03 


64 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


gressors. The theft was planned weeks before, the letter 
Ginger took to the Flat being a summons to “ Leviticus,” 
the villainous-looking Jew, whose brief presence in the 
camp has already been noted. This man was a congenial 
spirit with Jem Flanigan, being ready for any dirty work 
that brought a fair reward. Through Leviticus, Jem had 
sent the box to another rascal of their fraternity, living 
in Sacramento, where he carried on a sort of low, petti- 
fogging business in behalf of his companions, when they 
were dangerously near incurring the penalties of broken 
law. The saloon-keeper felt no reproach of conscience 
for the cruel thing he had done. He believed himself 
absolutely safe from suspicion; yet, cowardly as to the 
result, he watched for the discovery of its loss with some 
apprehension. He marveled greatly that it had not been 
missed, and so long a period having elapsed, he began to 
feel quite secure. No man had been more lavish in 
attention to the little maiden, and the Christmas-tree plan 
was a shrewd idea with a threefold object. First, it 
would prove his devotion to her interests, would give him 
an opportunity to gain possession of the box, and would 
make the saloon the central point of attraction once more. 
The last object had signally failed ; the box was his, and 
he hoped that the first would prove his sheet anchor in 
any perilous times to come. 

He did not know that Absalom’s keen eye had pene- 
trated his mask, and was reading his malice and hatred. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


65 


Had he known this, he might well have dreaded dis- 
covery. No earthly power had availed to keep him in 
the camp could he have seen how his innermost thoughts 
had been laid open before the eyes of this man whom 
an all-absorbing love had made wise. 

On the night of the secret meeting, he was at first non- 
plussed to find the saloon utterly deserted. Where were 
the men ? The coward his knowledge of his own guilt 
had made him, he resolved to solve the mystery. As 
he started forth, he saw the last man enter the cabin. 
The darkened windows, the perfect secrecy that attended 
the meeting, intensified his apprehensions. He crept up 
softly, stealthily, to one of the windows, where the blanket, 
slightly pushed aside by mere accident on account of the 
crowd, gave him a partial view of the proceedings. Bill’s 
speech was spoken too low for him to hear. But as the 
excitement deepened, he could hear much of what was 
said. As the general feeling of indignation found ex- 
pression, and he heard his own name uttered with rage 
and threats, his face blanched, and his knees shook with 
terror. How had they found him out ? One thing w r as 
certain, he must get out of Fortune Gulch as fast as his 
feet could carry him. 

Absalom and the child were in direct range. Should 
he shoot and complete his revenge? His hand was on 
his pistol, when he reflected that this would only precipi- 
tate matters, and probably spoil all his chances for escape. 

E 


66 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Sweet as it would be to take this final action, the love of 
life was sweeter, and self triumphed over every other con- 
sideration. He had not a moment to lose. 

He hastened back to the saloon, gathered all the gold 
dust he had on hand, and a few papers. A noise from 
without warned him of the necessity of immediate flight, 
and through the rear door he plunged into the darkness, 
hastening down the canon as fast as he dared, without 
light to guide him. There was but one trail in the winter 
that was open to travel, the trail to Monte Christo. No 
sane man would attempt the journey in the snowy season 
in the night, except as in a case like the present, when 
life or death hung in the balance. 

The would-be dispensers of justice were wild with rage 
at being thus foiled of their punishment. A thorough 
search of the premises was made for Jem Flanigan, but, 
as we know, he was beyond their finding. An examina- 
tion of the place showed that the gold was all gone, while 
the disordered and scattered papers proved that his flight 
must have been sudden. 

“ How on airth,” roared Bill Myers, “ did the ole ras- 
kil ever git wind of this ere thing? He’s dared out, 
thet’s sartain.” 

“ Let’s spile his ole shebang,” said Ginger, seizing an 
axe. Crash it went into one keg of liquor, then a sec- 
ond ! He had it raised over a third, when Bob Burns 
caught his arm. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


67 


“ Don’t waste good whisky, pard. It’s hard to git up 
here in the mountains.” 

“We would be better off without it,” said Ginger, 
crashing again into the fiery liquor. 

“Wait a minit,” said Bill Myers. “It ain’t no ways 
likely Jem ’ll ever show his face in this ere camp agin. 
It won’t spite him none ef we burn the hull thing up. 
I’ve a plan in my head, pards ; wait till I’ve got it clear, 
an’ then you kin vote fur or agin it, as ye like.” 

“Ef we kin ketch Jem Flanigan, he’ll cum back here 
agin, whether he likes it or not,” said one of the men, 
grimly. 

“ Thet’s so,” responded Bill, “ but in thet case, he won’t 
be takin’ much interest in his property in this camp. 
Leastways, he won’t very long. He’s robbed our Bessie, 
you know, an’ it seems ter me, thet whatever is worth 
enything thet was his’n, belongs by rights to her. What 
do ye say, pards ? ” 

“ Bill is right,” said Jack Piper, one of the most popu- 
lar among the men. “ Let’s lock up the building, an’ 
let him hev the keys till he is ready with that plan Ire 
woz talkin’ about.” 

This was heartily agreed to, for Bill was the acknowl- 
edged leader in the camp, and was liked and trusted by 
the miners. Before scattering, however, half a dozen had 
formed themselves into a pursuing party, which was to be 
ready to start by daylight in pursuit of Jem Flanigan. 


68 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


“ Ef we ketch him,” said Bill Myers between his set 
teeth, “ let him look out, thet’s all.” 

With the first gleam of dawn the search party was ready 
to take the trail. Bill Myers had been appointed leader, 
and Ginger and Bob Burns, the hardiest mountaineers in 
the camp, volunteered to join him. The trails were in 
fairly good condition, and unless there came a regular 
break-up of the snow, they hoped to make good time. 

They reached Pietown Gulch before noon, only to learn 
that their man had been there, and had departed early in 
the morning. Their story caused a lively breeze of indig- 
nation among the miners in this neighboring camp. Well 
it was for Jem Flanigan that he was safely beyond their 
reach. 

“ It looked mighty queer,” said one of the Pietown 
men, “ his cornin’ here as he did. But he hed a power- 
ful smooth story, an’ like fools, we swallered it all. It 
won’t be healthy fur him to show his face here agin.” 

The Fortune Gulch party tarried only long enough to 
take a little refreshment, and to rest their weary limbs a 
brief period before pushing on in hot pursuit. But the 
snow was becoming soft, and they could not get on so 
rapidly as they had in the forenoon. It was near night- 
fall when they reached Monte Christo Flat, and tired as 
they were, almost to exhaustion, they lost no time in 
making inquiries after the fugitive. His recent presence 
in the town was easily proved, and most of the people 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


69 


who had seen him believed that he might still be there in 
hiding. No trace of him could be found after five o’clock. 
Having set other men to work to search the town thor- 
oughly, our three friends sought food and shelter. 

But all the labor was throwm aw T ay. Jem Flanigan 
might as well have vanished from the face of the earth, 
for no trace nor hint of his whereabouts could be found. 
No one had seen him leave, and it was evident that he was 
not in Monte Christo. After tarrying another day, to make 
doubly sure that he was not to be found, the three disap- 
pointed men turned their faces toward Fortune Gulch. 
They took care, however, to secure persons to watch for 
him in the Flat, so that he should find himself a prisoner 
if he ever passed through the town again. 

They reached the camp without any trouble or hin- 
drance. It was a grievous disappointment that Jem 
Flanigan had succeeded in making good his escape. Bill 
Myers took, however, a philosophical view of the matter. 

“Never mind, pards,” he said. “A feller as hez sold 
hisself to the devil, reaches the end of the rope arter 
awhile, and gits drawn in, an’ sent whar he belongs. Ef 
we don’t hev the job of givin’ him what he desarves, 
somebody else will, an’ thet afore long too. Things get 
evened up in this ere world, <ef we cud only see the hull 
ov it.” 

And so matters settled down in the camp after the 
great excitement. They missed the opportunity the saloon 


70 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


had given them of a warm meeting place as the cabins 
were too small for purposes of general assemblage. Bill s 
plan, as presented to the camp, was this : 

He proposed that they should all pay a small amount 
toward the expense of keeping the room warmed and 
lighted, and that they should have it for a meeting place 
as before, and that all other profits that might accrue 
from the use of the place should be laid aside for Bessie. 
This plan met with universal favor, and the men took 
turns in making fires, and looking after the building. 
Another use was to be found in the near future, but of 
this none of them dreamed. Providence was leading 
them, step by step, to the better things he had in store. 
Perhaps, they little dreamed of the blessings that would 
come to the community in Fortune Gulch from the pres- 
ence of an innocent child. They had not denied the cup 
of cold water to one of the Lord’s helpless ones, and it 
was to be returned to them in richest measure. Even 
now the change for the better was very evident. Jem’s 
absence was a saving element in the uplifting process 
going on. He had been their tempter, holding out the 
cup, and urging them to drink that which was bringing 
death and destruction to their souls. True, the liquor, 
enough of it at least, was still there, to be had for the 
asking ; but it made a wonderful difference to have the 
constant temptation removed. It must be confessed, there 
was a daily call on the part of a few ; but even they did 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


71 


not drink nearly so deeply as they had in the time of 
Jem Flanigan. 

Absalom felt an intense relief. The constant strain of 
anxiety while he was dreading something, he knew not 
what, from Bessie’s sly and malicious enemy, had really 
worn upon him. Bill remarked the change, and often 
told him he was quite another man. 

The winter gradually slipped away, and spring, with 
gentle footsteps, made her presence known upon the 
mountains. The snow melted, the genial sun coaxed the 
green things into life, and all nature rejoiced in the 
beauty of a Californian April. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


A WOMAN IN THE CAMP. 


FTER the loss of the box and its contents, Absalom 



felt that Bessie was in his charge for an indefinite 
period. It did not occur to him that there might be other 
ways of tracing her origin f so the trip to Sacramento was 
given up, and as soon as the spring was sufficiently ad- 
vanced, the miners resumed their gold digging. Absalom 
hoped that perhaps extraordinary luck might enable him 
to replace the loss Bessie had sustained, that he might be 
able to take up the matter of tracing Jem Flanigan in 
the search for the missing papers. He was greatly puz- 
zled to know what to do with the child during the day’s 
absence at the diggings. 

But Providence met this need in a strange, altogether 
unlooked-for way. An Irish woman, giving her name as 
Norah McGinty, dropped suddenly into the camp the 
week before work in the claims was to begin. 

Of all the queer characters that drift into the mining 
camps, there is found occasionally a strange, nomadic 
creature, whom the instinct of unrest drives from place 
to place. Such an one was Norah McGinty, the elderly 
woman who astonished all the men by her sudden arrival. 


72 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


73 


Her clothing was shabby, yet there was an air of re- 
spectability about her. She had a jolly, bright way, and 
her ringing laugh was a welcome sound in Fortune Gulch. 

“ An’ sure, byes,” was her first greeting, “ yees are not 
afther wantin’ somebody to cook for yees, be ye ? ” 

Of course, the miners would like to have a cook, but 
how could the matter be arranged ? Bill Myers, as usual, 
was the first to think of a plan. 

“ I say, pards,” he suggested, “ Jem’s clarin’ out was a 
sure providence. Let the woman set up a boardin’ house 
in the saloon, an’ we’ll all chip in, an’ take our grub 
together.” 

The idea was received with enthusiasm. It is strange 
how the California miner, in his enforced exile from all 
that makes a home, reverences women. Some very sur- 
prising tales are told of the old days, when the gold 
mining was in its first feverish excitement, and women 
were a rare sight, even in the towns and cities. Life was 
a wild pandemonium. It is said, that on one occasion it 
was announced that an invoice of women’s bonnets had 
arrived at San Francisco, and could be seen at one of the 
stores. The news roused a great excitement, and there 
was a rush from all directions to catch a glimpse of this 
reminder of the gentler part of humanity. 

Another story states that as a missionary was preaching 
in a rude place he had managed to fit up for the purpose, 
one of the first men who had brought his family with 


74 


FORTUNE QULCH. 


him, came with his wife and baby. The child cried, and 
the mother was about to take it out, when a miner cried 
out to leave the baby where they could hear such a 
blessed thing as its voice. It was better than any other 
gospel that could be preached to them. The baby stayed, 
and the minister, doubtless, had an audience with hearts 
made more tender than they would otherwise have been. 

This explains why Bessie took such hold of the men in 
Fortune Gulch. It also makes plain how welcome Norah 
McGinty was in this rude camp. It would not be 
possible under the conditions of Eastern society. 

It did not take this bright, handy Irish woman long to 
establish herself in her roomy quarters. The men built 
her a log addition in the rear for her sleeping apartment. 
The inner room of the old saloon was converted into a 
kitchen, and soon a pleasant, comfortable place was 
ready, where all had good, well-cooked meals awaiting 
them when they came in from the diggings. It was really 
another step upward ; for now they ate sociably together, 
instead of each man by himself, in the old fashion. 

The woman seemed to have had no past, so far as any 
reference to it from her lips was concerned. She merely 
vouchsafed the information that she had walked fifty 
miles over the mountains to reach the camp. 

“ I’d not a been here, if I hadn’t,” she said. “ Hiver 
a cint'of money had I to pay me way. So it was walk 
or shtay wid me ! ” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


75 


Her shrewdness or good luck in selecting Fortune Gulch 
for her venture was soon evident. The men gladly paid 
a fair price per week for the rare comfort she gave them. 
She was neat, as well as a good cook ; and the place that 
under Jem’s dominion had been a curse and a degrading 
influence, was like a bit of home to these miners, unused 
to such privileges as she gave them. 

Absalom watched her closely for a few days, and then, 
with a great sigh of relief, confided Bessie to her care 
through the day. The warm-hearted Irish woman opened 
both heart and hands to the child. 

“ Bless her swate heart ! ” she exclaimed. “ Sure an’ 
it ’ll be company fer me when ye byes is gone to yer work. 
Nivir a bit of bother she’ll be at all, at all, Mr. Absalom.” 

The offer of pay for this service she indignantly 
scouted. 

“No, indade! What d’ye take me fer? Haven’t I 
seen how yees all were doin’ for the stray lamb, an’ isn’t 
it Norah McGinty wants a bit of the blessin’ as is sure 
to come ? I tell ye she’ll be a comfort. So go along wid 
ye!” 

Bessie took to her new friend amazingly. So, in pro- 
cess of time, as spring fairly opened, Absalom took the 
child, together with Pete and her toys, to the boarding 
house every morning, and trudged away after breakfast 
with a light heart to the claim he and Bill Myers were 
working. And surely his confidence was not misplaced. 


76 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Norah McGinty was very tender in her care of the little 
waif. 

In her intervals of leisure, she would take Bessie in 
her arms, and croon over her some Irish ditty, or talk to 
her in a loving, wistful fashion that might have given 
the men some clue to a past life that had known both 
home and children. When she was busy, Bessie played 
indoors and out, as she pleased, but was never allowed to 
stray beyond the watchful eye of her guardian. 

If the camp could have remained just as it was, it 
would have been unique through all that region for its 
good order and morality. But there was always an 
influx of miners with the opening season. The fame of 
the Fortune Gulch diggings insured a large camp in the 
summer, and this time the number flocking in was nearly 
double that of the preceding season. Of course, there 
were hard and reckless men among them, and for a time 
it seemed as if the old order of things was in danger 
of returning. A villainous-looking fellow, a German, 
appeared on the scene with a stock of liquors, for which 
he built a shanty a little way down the gulch. 

The fame of Mrs. McGinty’s cooking gave her nearly 
all the men as boarders ; and here it was that her real 
character came out strong. The neatness of her house, 
the tidy table, and her unfailing cheerfulness and good 
nature, gave her a great influence among the miners. 
When they came in tired and hungry, she was untiring 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


77 


in her efforts to minister to their comfort. She would 
clear the long table in the evening, and invite all the 
“ byes ” to sit in the cheerful, well-lighted room. How 
she ever did so much work was a constant marvel. 
Besides providing their meals, she washed and mended 
for the men, cared for them if sick, and exerted a 
decidedly wholesome influence. 

Poor little Bessie was in serious want of clothing. The 
slender stock she brought with her was in sad condition. 
Her new friend put the well-worn garments in as good 
order as possible, kept the tangled curls neat and pretty, 
and w T as almost a mother to the forlorn child. After 
a while, she persuaded Absalom to let her have the charge 
of Bessie, by night as well as day. 

“ I know I ain’t fit to take keer of a little un like thet, 
ma’am,” Absalom said, “an you’ve done wonders by her. 
I shan’t forgit it in a hurry. I can’t giv’ her away, ’cause 
she’s only in trust like to me till I kin find her folks. 
She’s jest a part of myself, ma’am, sence the day she cum 
inter my arms cryin’ over her dead father. You’ve heard 
the story. I’ll furnish the gold dust an’ the like o’ that, 
but I’ll be glad to hev the little un under a woman’s 
care.” 

At Mrs. McGinty’s suggestion, Absalom went down to 
the Flat, taking the team and wagon and Bessie with 
him, to buy calico and other necessary things for new 
clothes for the child. He also laid in a stock of supplies 


78 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


for the camp. The efficient little woman contrived, in 
the midst of all her work, to find time to make the gar- 
ments, and, in course of time, wrought quite a transfor- 
mation in Bessie’s appearance. To be sure, the styles 
were rather old-fashioned ; but the men were not critical, 
and Absalom thought her a charming picture, as she 
came dancing to meet him at night, with Pete at her 
heels. Norah McGinty had taught her to call him 
“ Daddy,” and she would shout it gleefully as far as she 
could see him. At meal times, she was always on his 
lap ; and through the evenings she was the pet and life 
of the room filled with miners. Whisky Dick, in his 
saloon down the gulch, drew only the worst and most 
hardened of the men. Queen Bess, as they still called 
her, held nightly court for all whose hearts were not 
wholly spoiled by the dissipations and vices of camp life. 
Bill Myers had recalled his long-forgotten songs. Other 
singers had been found among the men ; and music — the 
old, old melodies — echoed through the pines and down 
the canon after the day’s work was done. Bessie too, 
was developing into a rare little singer. Bill had taught 
her some simple songs, and she would stand on the table 
and warble away to an admiring audience. Doubtless, 
her presence, as well as that of Nor ah McGinty in the 
camp, made Whisky Dick realize that Fortune Gulch 
was not the place in which he could reap a rich harvest. 
He could not boast of more than half a dozen profitable 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


79 


customers ; so one Saturday night he closed out, and 
departed for a more congenial and convivial camp. 

There was not much mourning over his departure, save 
on the part of his boon companions, and they formed 
such a small minority that they did not influence the 
general tone of the little community much. Most of 
them followed their caterer in search of more congenial 
surroundings, and Fortune Gulch rejoiced in knowing 
them no more. 

Bessie was fast growing into a lovely child. Her 
physical development was wonderful. Her flow of spirits 
was continuous, and tears were an almost forgotten thing 
in her experience. Norah McGinty she called “Nanny,” 
and in and out the cabin she ran the livelong day, sing- 
ing and laughing till the air was full of music. 

“An’ sure it’s no bird I’m afther a needin’,” Mrs. Mc- 
Ginty would say, “ for Bessie kapes up that warblin’ that 
sometimes I’m clane distracted. It’s swater than the 
birds, an’ desolate Norah ’d be widout it.” 

And so the happy summer sped away. Absalom and 
Bill Myers moved their claim to a new spot, and were 
reaping fair returns. Absalom’s bag of gold dust was 
steadily filling up, and Bill sent to his family generous 
remittances. An ugly debt that had driven him to the 
gold mines years before was now bidding fair to be exor- 
cised forever, and this meant home for Bill. He had 
never been so homesick for them all as since Bessie had 


80 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


come into the camp. One thing was certain — he would 
go back to his loved ones a purer, better man for the 
advent of the little maiden under such strange circum- 
stances. Although her coming meant so much of sorrow 
to other lives, it was the dear Lord’s own uplifting, not 
only to Absalom and Bill Myers, but to other reckless, 
hardened souls coming under her sweet influence. God 
holds the key to all these mysteries ; and perchance his 
loving wisdom, seeing the end from the beginning, knew 
that it was worth all it had cost. 


CHAPTER IX. 


CHANGES AT FORTUNE GULCH. 

rPHE summer flushed into autumn. Again the white 
fogs rose from the valley to enwrap the mountain 
sides. But winter was slow in coming, and the gold dig- 
gers kept at work much later in the season than usual. 
The morning dampness was unhealthful, and a cold wind 
blew down the gulch that chilled the miners, reluctant to 
leave their toil while the earth holding the precious metal 
was still unfrozen. Absalom and Bill Myers were some- 
what protected from the cold, as the vein of gold they 
had struck on their claim ran downward, making a tun- 
nel necessary in order to follow it. 

Nothing had been heard of Jem Flanigan; although 
his description had been sent to all the mining camps in 
the near neighborhood. The tunnel was yielding rich 
returns, so that Bill Myers was rejoicing in the thought 
that the next summer would bring him release; and 
Absalom was happy in the fact that he was laying up 
gold for his darling. The other men, exposed to the 
weather, fared hard. One by one they came down with 
pneumonia, that scourge of the mountains. Mrs. 
McGinty had the sick ones brought to her own room, 

81 


82 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


where she tended them like a mother. The epidemic as- 
sumed a severe form. The doctor came up from Monte 
Christo twice a week, and left medicines and directions. 
Some of the men, discouraged and weak, were inclined to 
turn their faces to the wall, and give up the struggle 
for life. But Norah McGinty, who was proving a won- 
derful nurse, would not let them succumb to depression. 
Her rare brightness and cheerfulness came to the rescue. 

“Don’t lose yees grip, me lad!” she would say. 
“ Don’t ye dare say I won’t bring yees t’roo all right ! ” 

In most cases she triumphed. It was greatly in favor 
of the men that the larger part of them had been of late 
leading temperate lives. Two poor fellows, liquor-soaked, 
their constitutions broken by excesses, died ; but all the 
rest of the sick ones rallied, and were able to be about 
before winter came in good earnest. Absalom left his 
work in the height of the epidemic, in grateful remem- 
brance of what the heroic little Irish woman had done 
for Bessie, and was a valuable helper in nursing the in- 
valids. 

Although the bright smile and cheery word had never 
failed from Nor ah McGinty ’s lips, she had reached the 
limit of her endurance. One evening she sank down 
wearily, saying, brave soul that she was : “ Turn about is 
fair play, byes! I’m goin’ to be sick now, an’ its a foine 
time yee’ll be havin’ takin’ me t’roo a round wid the 
pewmony ! ” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


83 


The last sick man in her charge was just able to crawl 
about feebly in weak convalescence. Her prophecy 
proved too true. She had literally worn herself out in 
behalf of the camp, and the disease assumed a violent 
form. The men vied in caring for the one who had been 
a good and faithful friend to them all. The doctor was 
once more summoned. 

When he saw the sick woman, moaning and talk- 
ing in her delirium of long-past scenes, he shook his 
head. 

She s past hope, boys. All we can do is to make her 
last hours as easy as possible.” 

Leaving opiates to ease her journey out of life, he 
mounted his mule, and returned to Monte Christo. 

Three days later, a little procession filed out of the 
old saloon, reverently bearing her body, and laying it 
beside that of David Preston. Absalom felt as if the 
dead man would have had it so, could he know; for 
Norah McGinty had been a true and faithful friend to 
the orphan child he had left behind. 

The burial service was again read ; not by Ginger, for 
he had left Fortune Gulch, but by a new man, who was 
quite a “scollard,” as the men said. They were not 
ashamed that the hot tears flowed down their faces, and 
they returned to their desolate boarding house, feeling 
lonely and bereaved. Poor little Bessie, a second time 
orphaned of tender care, mourned constantly for “ Nan- 


84 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


nie,” until the whole camp was nearly broken-hearted 
over her grief. 

“ I tell ye what, pards,” said Bill Myers, after three 
days of comfortless existence, “ sumthin’s got to be done ! 
This yer camp’s spiled fur gittin’ along without a woman. 
I’m a goin’ ter the Flat, an’ see what I kin scare up. 
Look at Bessie here. She’ll mourn herself ter death, ef 
she keeps on this way.” 

It was too late in the season for it to be comfortable 
traveling. Still, snow had not fallen in any great quanti- 
ties, and Bill resolved to venture on taking the team and 
wagon. Early the next morning, he started on his way, 
the weather seeming propitious for the trip. On the 
fourth day he returned triumphant, with a ruddy-faced 
young Englishman, his wife, and baby girl, their few 
earthly possessions being in the w T agon with them. The 
camp was naturally surprised at such an addition to its 
numbers, but they were very glad to see them, and gave the 
new-comers a hearty welcome. They were at once in- 
stalled in the boarding house, everything possible being 
done for their immediate comfort. 

Bill Myers afterward told the story of his experiences 
at the Flat, as follows : 

“After I got thare, boys, I looked about, but nary thing 
cud I find but a Chinaman. We didn’t want none of 
them yaller heathen in Norah McGinty’s place, an’ sez I 

ter myself, ‘ I’ll jest look a leetle further.’ Finally, jest 
F 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


85 


ez I woz a gittin’ discouraged, I ran acrost this ere John 
Rose, I b’lieve he calls hisself. I found out he’d cum all 
the way ’cross the plains with the little woman yonder, 
hopin’ to make a livin’ at the mines. 

“ But not knowin’ nothin’ ’bout the kentry an’ its 
ways, he didn’t make ’nuff las’ summer to keep body an’ 
soul tergether. Then thet yer baby cum, makin’ three 
mouths ter feed instid uv two. He’d got as fur as the 
Flat lookin’ fur work, but it woz mighty skeerce. So I 
sez to him, likin his honest look : 

Cum up ter our camp, an’ keep our boardin’ house 
this winter. It’ll be better nor doin’ nothin’, an’ we’re 
clean orphaned up thar.’ Then I told him about Norah 
McGinty an’ Bessie, an’ he talked it over with his wife, 
an’ they jest cum right along. Its a clar case of provi- 
dence, I tell ye pards. I’m gittin’ ter b’leeve in thet sort 
ov thing. I ain’t pious, as ye know very well, but sum 
Higher Power than our’n hez hed a good deal ter do with 
this ere camp the past year. 

“Everythin’s providence with Bill lately,” laughed 
Absalom. “ But mebbe he’s right. I ain’t the feller ter 
dispute it arter all thet’s happened.” 

The arrangement certainly did seem providential to all 
parties concerned. To John Rose and his wife it was a 
rift in a heavy cloud well-nigh black with despair. They 
were Christian people, and although their faith had been 
sorely tried, they had never lost their faith in God’s 


86 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


leading hand. This opportunity came in their extremity, 
and with grateful hearts they bowed in thankful acknowl- 
edgment of continued mercies. 

They soon found they had entered a field rich in 
openings for actual missionary work. The way had been 
prepared before them by the circumstances of the year 
preceding. David Preston’s brief life in the camp, with 
its silent testimony of a pure soul, his death, and the 
responsibility thrown upon them by Bessie’s forlorn and 
helpless condition, her innocent presence among them, 
the removal of Jem Flanigan, with his degrading influ- 
ence, even Norah McGinty’s unselfish ministry, though 
without any hint of formal religion in it, had paved the 
way for more direct guidance to the Father of all. 

Surely a divine hand must have led Bill Myers to 
Monte Christo in search of some one in their great need, 
just as John Rose came thither seeking for some way to 
earn the daily bread for himself and his little family. 
For the Roses had a mission to perform in Fortune Gulch, 
a mission far higher than Bill Myers and his companions 
dreamed. The providence, dimly comprehended, was 
leading them all by a way they knew not. 

Before David Preston’s coming, a religious man would 
not have been tolerated in the camp. Now, so great was 
the change, that there was little open opposition when it 
became known that John Rose and his wife were the 
Lord’s servants of a positive stamp. Some of the men 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


87 


welcomed them on this account — a surprising fact, in view 
of the past character and history of the place. But, with 
the departure -of Jem Flanigan, the evil spirit of Fortune 
Gulch had been exorcised ; and Whisky Dick, seeking 
to enter into the vacant place, found it not only swept 
and garnished, but well-nigh closed to his influence and 
that of his boon companions, so that they were driven 
out to seek another spot where holy influences had not 
penetrated. 

John Rose, ruddy-faced, vigorous in his young man- 
hood, impressed them all as a clean man. He was, in 
one sense, the same as themselves, poor, and compelled to 
work for his daily bread. There was no cant in his 
religion. It was as simply natural as the act of breath- 
ing. The miners, always ready with a nickname, dubbed 
him “ Rosy Jack,” not from any disrespect, but in real 
liking and spirit of comradeship. And his frank re- 
sponse to their overtures of friendship placed him in a 
position of influence, rich in its power for good. 

Mrs. Rose was at first timid and shy among so many 
rough- appearing men. But the chivalric reverence which 
she awakened in their hearts, and which was evident in 
every word and action, soon reassured her, and she grew 
into a hearty liking for the miners, and a deep interest 
in their welfare. Baby Jennie Rose, only three months 
old upon her first arrival in the camp, was re-christened 
“Rosebud,” and made the object of much admiring at- 


88 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


tention. Queen Bess lost none of the loving devotion 
of her little court, and she shared it generously with the 
tiny new-comer. There seemed to be no jealousy in her 
heart toward the wee stranger. Her doll was nearly 
forgotten in her passionate love for this live playmate. 
Pete adopted Rosebud also, but his chief object of affec- 
tion was Bessie herself. He was ever loyal to his own 
little mistress. 

It was beautiful to see the three playmates together. 
Bessie watched over the baby with a motherly care that 
was both touching and amusing. A cradle had been 
improvised for Rosebud, and the greater part of the 
child’s time was spent beside it. Pete would stay close 
at hand, ready to jump at the slightest expression of 
Bessie’s wishes. 

Well was it for the little maiden that she had once 
mere a tender-hearted woman to exercise a loving watch- 
care over her. Mrs. Rose had not the strength, nor the 
marvelous executive ability that Norah McGinty had 
possessed ; but, aided by her husband, who took charge 
of the management of the boarding house, the men found 
themselves better served than even the bright little Irish 
woman had been able to do. But their memory of her 
was exceedingly tender, and her reign had been a step- 
ping stone from the former state to the present. Her 
ministry had prepared them for what was yet to come. 

John Rose was a born singer, and his wife had a sweet 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


89 


contralto voice, which, though not strong, was clear and 
pure. In the winter days and long evenings, when the 
time threatened to hang heavily, the men would ask them 
to sing. So the Gospel Hymns, then a new thing in the 
world, became a familiar sound in Fortune Gulch camp. 
There were only twelve men remaining on through the 
cold season, and as whisky was rarely called for, and 
cards had somehow somewhat fallen into disuse, other 
diversions must be provided. After a while, the boys 
caught the ringing melodies, and the holy words echoed 
out on the air and down through the canon with an 
enthusiasm that might well fright away the spirits of evil 
hovering about, lying in wait to destroy. The effect on 
the men themselves could be marked. They were, per- 
haps, unconscious of it themselves, but they were gradu- 
ally losing the taste for low and degrading things. For 
the sake of Bessie, who played among them constantly, 
they had learned to purify their speech, and, impercepti- 
bly to themselves, this grew into a habit. 

One who had known the camp in former days could 
scarcely have recognized it in its changed conditions. 
The old saloon, whose walls had been the scene of many 
wild revelries, and even crimes, was now given up to better 
uses. It would seem as if the Spirit of God were just 
without, waiting to enter in and take full possession. 

“ Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” was the burden 
of the prophet’s cry once when he looked into the future. 


90 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


The way of the Lord had been prepared in Fortune 
Gulch, and his footsteps were just at hand. Strangely 
he had wrought, and the workers had been unconscious 
of their parts ; but all were more and more, with Bill 
Myers, beginning to feel the influence of a power higher 
than their own. 


CHAPTER X. 


A BLESSED FRUITAGE. 



OHN ROSE and his wife felt almost overwhelmed 


^ at times by the magnitude of the responsibility laid 
upon them by the opportunity placed in their hands. It 
was necessary to move carefully and wisely. Fortunately, 
they had been connected in England with a working 
church, whose pastor had trained his members in the va- 
rious lines of Christian activity. The men around them 
had been well-nigh heathen in their rough life in the 
mines, and must be led gradually to better things. 

Among their slender stock of belongings were some 
books and papers. Mr. Rose was possessed of a good 
common school education, and the men soon discovered 
that he was a “ scollard.” So he was eagerly asked to 
read to them in the long evenings. He willingly con- 
sented, wisely choosing first a story that was among his 
books, one that taught pure, good lessons of morality and 
truth. His auditors listened like those who had been half- 
starved for mental food, and they would have gladly sat 
up half the night to hear and be fed. But he was judi- 
cious in imparting this mental nourishment, and gave 
them just an hour of reading every night. 


91 


92 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


The next Sunday, seeing his opportunity, he said to the 
men, as breakfast was over : 

“ It’s Sunday, boys. Don’t you want me to read out 
of another book this morning? And then we’ll sing a 
bit, if you say so.” 

Now Sunday, in the miner’s calendar, is not notable for 
religious observance, and the men looked up surprised. 
It was really a critical moment, and John Rose lifted up 
his heart in a brief, silent prayer for guidance. W ould 
they take kindly to an actual religious service ? 

The silence was really oppressive for a moment. It 
was rather a daring experiment, but the men had learned 
to have faith in “ Rosy Jack,” and presently Absalom 
said : 

“It ’ll be sumthin’ new, pards, an’ it won’t hurt us to 
remember thet thar’s a Sunday onct in a while.” 

This settled the matter, and when the table had been 
cleared away, Bessie established herself in her usual place 
on Absalom’s knee, while the men disposed themselves in 
various attitudes to listen. 

“ It’s an old, old book, boys,” John Rose said, as he 
laid a large volume on the table before him. “ Most 
likely your mothers know more about it than you do.” 

“ Is it a Bible ? ” Bill Myers asked, curiously. 

“ Yes, and there is a story in it I want to read to you.” 

“Sho, the Bible ain’t one uv yer story books,” said one 
of the men, suspiciously. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


93 


“ It has some of the best stories you ever heard,” re- 
sponded John Rose, promptly. “ Listen here.” And turn- 
ing quickly to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he read 
it with such effect that his audience hearkened with 
breathless attention. As he finished, the comments were 
various. 

“ That yer boy didn’t strike it rich, did he? ” 

“ His claim didn’t pan out all he ’spected it would,” 
remarked another. 

“ He wozn’t wuth shucks ter go back on sech a prime 
ole dad back in the States,” spoke up a third. 

“ See here, boys,” — and Absalom brought his heavy fist 
on the table with startling emphasis, — “this yer story 
means sumthin', an’ it means us ! I never had no dad 
sence I woz a little feller, but ef I had, I'd be blasted 
mean to take on ez that chap did. But don’t ye see, 
pards, it means God! We’ve bin a gittin’ all we cud 
out o’ him, blessin’s, an’ sich like, an’ we’ve gone jest ez 
fur ez we cud inter the devil’s own kentry. An’ thar’s 
God, like the ole father, sayin’, ‘ Boys, cum home, and 
welcum ! ’ We all know a powerful sight what husks is 
too. Ain’t that so, Jack ? ” 

John Rose )vas trying to wink away a suspicious mois- 
ture that seemed to interfere with his sight. Then he said, 
briskly : 

“ Bless you, yes ! You’ve preached the best sermon 
I’ve heard this many a day.” 


94 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Absalom frowned. “ I don’t set up fur no preacher,” 
he said. “ They’s skeerce in these parts. I woz only jest 
a tellin’ ye what the story said ter me.” 

“ Certain, certain ! ” said John Rose, soothingly. “ You 
hit the meaning just right too. Now I’ve got a song I’d 
like to sing to you, if you ain’t tired of me ; a song and a 
story all together.” 

“ Go ahead ! ” “ Go it, Rosy Jack ! ” “ We’re a’ lis- 

tening ! ” were some of the approving responses from his 
audience. 

So he sang to them “ The Ninety and Nine ” ; not so 
artistically as Mr. Sankey would have sung it, but effect- 
ively, with a pathos that touched every one of the hearts 
before him ; touched them all the more personally and 
surely, because the Good Shepherd sought the lost sheep 
in the lonely mountains. 

“ Thet’s another story ez means the same ez the one ye 
read. Jack,” said Bill Myers, brokenly ; for the song had 
reached his music-loving soul, as a spoken word never 
could have done. 

Then John Rose ventured a step further. “Shall we 
ask the Good Shepherd,” he said, “to search for his lost 
sheep in our mountains ? ” 

Reverently he bowed his head, saying : 

“ Gear Lord, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, we are 
a needy, lonely band up here in the hills. Come this 
way, and lead the wandering sheep back into the fold. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


95 


W e are weak and ignorant ; we do not know the way ; 
but make us trust and follow thee, as little Bessie loves 
and trusts us. Amen.” 

Taking his Bible, he had disappeared before the men 
had time to recover from their surprise. 

“ ’Pears like he’s ’quainted with the Lord too,” thought 
poor Absalom. “ Mebbe if I’d had a chance, I cud hev 
bin a clean, good man too. Wonder if the Good Shep- 
herd kin find sech a God-forsaken place ez this ere camp 
is ? But then,” his thought went on, “ ef he’d altogether 
gin us up, he wouldn’t have sent Bessie here. She’s one 
ov the lambs, sartain.” 

Lifting the child to his knee, he let her play at straight- 
ening out his grizzled, tangled locks, stopping now and 
then to stroke his rough beard, and hug him in an aban- 
don of baby affection. The closing words of the prayer 
recurred to his mind. “ Help us to trust and follow thee 
as little Bessie loves and trusts us.” 

“ The little un does love ole Absalom, thet’s sure,” he 
thought. “ How cud I ever love the Lord A’mighty thet 
way ? Here I be, ugly as sin, an’ wicked as I be ugly. 
What ’ud he want ov sech a body to love him ? An’ yet, 
the boy thet run away from his ole dad, in the story Jack 
read us, was all dirt an’ rags when he put fur home. 
The father woz glad ter see him too. Well, well ! It’s a 
mighty big puzzle, enyhow ! ” 

An unwonted silence had fallen upon the men. Chords 


96 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


long silent in their natures had been touched as by an 
unseen hand, and the thrilling vibrations brought its 
measure of pain. Absalom was not the only one busy 
with serious thoughts. Memory was bringing back a 
far-away past, waking visions of things long forgotten. 

Presently, dinner was placed upon the table. The 
meal over, a long afternoon lay before them. John Rose 
came to the rescue once more, and read aloud to them 
from the book they had been hearing during past even- 
ings. He did not deem it wise to push the religious 
services any farther at this time. He had gone far beyond 
what he had dreamed possible in the morning, and he 
well knew that a single false step might undo all he had 
done. So he was content to wait, and leave the results 
with God. 

In the evening, music was once more in demand, and 
the old hymns whispered sweeter lessons than ever before. 
A surprise was in store. Mrs. Rose had been teaching 
Bessie a new song through the week, and now, proud of 
her accomplishment, she stood on the table, and sang in 
words wonderfully distinct for such a wee girlie : 

“ Jesus loves me, this I know, 

For the Bible tells me so ; 

Little ones to him belong, 

They are weak, but he is strong.” 

Her childish voice, never before raised in sacred song, 
thrilled all the men. 


FORTUNE GURCH. 


97 


“Sing it again, Bessie,” said Absalom. 

So she sang it again and again, in willing response to 
the wishes of her friends, until she was tired. To Absa- 
lom, the words emphasized the lesson of the morning, and 
led him a step nearer the light and truth. Thus ended 
the first real Sunday in the history of Fortune Gulch. 

It was not the last, however. Step by step the good 
work went on. The stormy winter shut the camp in from 
polluting outside influences. Like leaven in the measure 
of meal, which works quietly and unseen, so did the 
Spirit of God work in the hearts of these men, who had 
become sin-hardened and aliens from their Father’s house. 

Absalom was the first one to yield. In one sense, the 
gospel was a new, strange story. Even in his childhood 
he had been shut out from religious influences, so that he 
had not sinned against as great a measure of light as 
most of the others. His heart opened to the truth with 
unspeakable joy and deep humility. He was even as a 
little child. 

God had sent tiny, clinging fingers to unlock the barred 
gates of his soul. As they swung slowly open, with much 
creaking of rusty hinges, One entered in, thorn-crowned, 
to go out no more forever. Bill Myers was not far 
behind. God’s providences had made him think, and 
then the words of a song had broken down the barriers 
of opposition, and he stood at last a free man in Christ 

Jesus. The chains of temporal debt were still upon him, 
G 


98 


fortune gulch. 


but never more could bis soul be fettered by sin as in 
the past. 

I wish I might tell you that every man in the camp 
gave up his opposition and became Christ’s soldier. 
Alas, in every time of decision, some falter and draw 
back until it is too late ! Nine out of the twelve stepped 
over the narrow line and stood squarely and manfully on 
the Lord’s side. The Western miner does nothing by 
halves, and these men would henceforth be outspoken in 
defense of their faith, even though it led them to actual 
martyrdom among the rough, wicked population in the 
mining regions. 

It was a wonderful work, all things considered. It 
was full of interest too, because so unpremeditated. But 
this was its strong point. No planned and openly an- 
nounced work would have secured these men as John 
Rose’s did. Gradually they yielded to the new influence 
before they knew whither it was leading them, and the 
winter of their sin and godlessness had melted away in a 
blessed springtime of God’s love and grace. 

Christmas dawned upon a very different camp. No 
tree or especial celebration was in course of preparation 
this time, for all felt it would awaken unpleasant memo- 
ries. But it was a better day than the one of a year 
before, for now the Christmas joy was in almost every 
heart. The contrast between these two days was a very 
vivid one. Yet the good will shown the helpless child, 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


99 


who had come among them on the earlier of the two 
occasions, was leading them up to the peace and gladness 
of the second festival. 

Bessie was now almost entirely under the care of Mrs. 
Rose, as she had been under that of Norah McGinty. 
She had hung up her stocking on Christmas eve, a plan 
suggested by her English friends. A strange variety of 
gifts filled it on Christmas morning. Mrs. Rose had 
manufactured some extraordinary animals out of ginger- 
bread, which gave the little maiden no end of pleasure. 
Small nuggets of gold, some queerly carved toys, and a 
buckskin collar for Pete, ornamented in Indian fashion, 
were among her remembrances. Each one of her old 
friends had contributed something toward the contents of 
the stocking. Although her gifts were not so numerous 
nor costly as those of the year before, they gave her just 
as much pleasure. 

John Rose and his wife did the best in their power to 
give the men a Christmas dinner. All the desirable 
things for such a feast were not attainable, but the result 
was highly satisfactory to the guests, at least. There was 
abundance of good cheer, and a happiness and real light- 
heartedness which would have given a relish to the 
plainest food. The old English plum pudding graced 
the board, also game, killed by some of the men for this 
very occasion. Before the feast began, John Rose asked 
a simple blessing, as he always did now that the new 


100 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


order of things made such a thing possible. Never had 
there been a jollier meal in that camp. Bill Myers came 
out famously as a teller of good stories, and laughter and 
happy cheer were the order of the day. That night, 
John Rose and his wife clasped hands, saying, “ Thank 
God for the change in Fortune Gulch camp ! ” 


CHAPTER XI. 


TIDINGS. 

FT was a blessed thing for little Bessie that she had 
come under such wise care. Bright, apt to learn, 
the former lessons of the camp would have been disas- 
trous to her childish innocence and purity. Even Norah 
McGinty, while she looked carefully after her physical 
well-being, was a feeble guard against moral contagion. 
Yet she had served well the part that Providence had 
assigned her in Fortune Gulch camp, in paving the way 
for better things to come. 

Janet Rose accepted the care of Bessie as a charge 
from the Lord. Her motherly heart ached over her for- 
lorn, orphaned condition, and straightway she set herself 
to fill, as far as possible, a Christian mother’s place. The 
child was just at the age where she needed religious 
teaching to save her from developing into a little heathen. 
Under her instruction, Bessie folded her hands to say her 
first nightly prayer. The little song, “Jesus loves me, 
this I know,” was followed by others, which, as they be- 
came familiar, were sung to delighted auditors. The 
loving hand of the Father was evident in thus sending 
to the child, at this critical period in her development, 

101 


102 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


such wise, tender care to training her up in the knowl- 
edge of Jesus. 

John Rose and his wife were convinced that Bessie was 
of no ordinary parentage. Her quick intelligence, her 
naturally lady-like ways, led them to this conclusion. 

“ I’m afraid, John,” said his wife to him one day, “ that 
hearts somewhere are aching for news of the child. If 
only those papers could be found ! ” 

“ Aye, Janet,” he responded, “ that’s a big ‘ if.’ But 
it’s a comfort that the Lord rules, and that he will bring 
the tangle out all right in his own good time.” 

“ Yes,” she replied. “ It isn’t any tangle to him, and 
that is a comfort, to be sure. But think of the chances 
that she’s losing, up here in’ the mountains ! ” 

John Rose smiled. “ Seems to me, little wife, that your 
last speech doesn’t savor very strongly of faith. When 
the Good Father wants her to have any better opportu- 
nities, it will be very easy for him to bring them about. 
From what Absalom tells me, I think her father must 
have been a praying man ; and you remember the Script- 
ure : ‘Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his 
seed begging bread.’ She surely hasn’t been friendless, 
and I know the little girl might be under far worse influ- 
ence than yours.” 

“ I won’t doubt any more on her behalf, John. But I 
shall be very glad when the uncertainty about her future 
and her belongings is cleared up.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


103 


“So shall I. In the meantime, we will do the 
best we can for her, taking the work as sent from the 
Lord.” 

As spring approached, there came up the question re- 
garding farther arrangements. The men were all anx- 
ious to have the Roses remain permanently in charge of 
the boarding house. 

“ It ’ll be better than gold diggin’ fur ye, Jack,” said 
Bill Myers. “ Plenty fellers cum inter the gulch fur the 
summer, an’ ye’ll hev a sure thing of it. Gold diggin’s 
mighty onsartain work, and hard work too. Besides, 
J ack,” he continued, patting the younger man’s shoulder 
affectionately, “ we can’t spar ye. God’s got a work fur 
ye in these mountains. I tell ye, it ’ll be an everlastin’ 
job holdin’ some of the men level that ’ll cum in here to 
hunt fur gold. Fortune Gulch hez got ter show up fur 
the Lord arter this, an’ the Devil won't giv’ her up easy.” 

And so it was decided. John and Janet Rose, and 
“Rosebud,” the only name by which the baby was known 
among the men, stayed in the boarding house, and helped 
hold Fortune Gulch “ level ’• for Christ. Not a man left 
who had been in camp through the winter. As the spring 
came, and the diggings opened once more, the usual rush 
ensued, and the conflict began between the powers of light 
and of darkness. 

There was not a man but enjoyed the appetizing, tidy 
meals served by the Roses. Bessie and the “ Rosebud ” 


104 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


were also unfailing attractions, innocent and harmless. 
But the atmosphere of the place struck the hardened and 
depraved among the new-comers as strange and uncon- 
genial. They soon drew off into a clique by themselves, 
coming to the boarding house merely for their meals. 
The reading and singing were quite out of their line or 
liking. 

“ A perfect ole nest of psalm-singin’ snivellers,” one of 
them termed it, with a few more forcible adjectives thrown 
in for emphasis. A successor to “ Whisky Dick ” opened 
a saloon in the place he had vacated. “Game Bill” 
was the cognomen of this follower of Jem Flanigan, so 
called because one leg was somewhat shorter than its 
mate. Here he and his cronies held their wild carousals, 
in striking contrast to the quiet, orderly enjoyment of 
Jack Rose’s establishment. The latter place had its sav- 
ing influence, as well. Young men, fresh from good 
homes, who had not yet forgotten their mothers, were 
drawn into this safer circle, and held by the power of un- 
selfish fellowship. Older men too, who were not vicious, 
nor inclined to sin for sin’s sake, yet too weak to resist 
evil unaided, were kept out of dangerous associations by 
the watchful band of Christian workers. The devil had 
indeed come into Fortune Gulch, but now he did not have 
it all his own way, as heretofore. He might tempt, but 
God’s love in human hearts made them ready to succor 
the tempted. It was his own chosen and choice circle of 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


105 


spirits that made a pandemonium in Game Bill’s saloon. 
Souls not apparently past saving were often kept from his 
power. 

Regular services were held on Sunday in the boarding 
house, to which all were invited and made welcome. 
John Ross, much to his own astonishment, had been de- 
veloped by the exigencies of the case into a lay preacher. 
His quaint and homely presentation of Scripture truth 
exactly suited his audience, that would not have enjoyed 
a more polished and logical setting forth of the same 
things, nor would they have been profited as much by 
them. His influence was greater, because he had been 
the means of bringing most of them to the light. Now 
and then they found a man who had brought his religion 
with him to the mountains. But rarely was this the case. 
Nearly all the additions to the band of the Lord’s soldiers 
were men who were led to feel the power of God through 
the prayers and efforts of their fellow-delvers for gold. 

Such singing as grew out of these meetings ! Bill 
Myer’s rich baritone led all the rest of the voices. 
“ Ninety and Nine ” was his favorite. John Rose never 
sang it any more ; for Bill gave it a pathos and power 
that never failed to touch his auditors. How his glorious 
voice sent the words rolling far down the canon, until 
they penetrated even the “ gate of hell ” presided over by 
Game Bill. The sound often called forth curses, and the 
denizens of the place wished they could find some spot 


106 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


beyond the reach of these heavenly sounds. Was it not 
akin to the feeling with which Dives looked from the 
eternal burnings, and saw Lazarus afar off, in Abraham s 
bosom ? 

“ Ring the bells of heaven ” was another favorite. The 
music won more attendants to the meetings than any- 
thing else ; but once there, they were held to listen to the 
Bible truths that were able to make them wise unto sal- 
vation. Conversions were not infrequent. What else 
could be expected with such an earnest band of workers 
seeking for souls ? 

About the middle of the summer, wild excitement pre- 
vailed in Fortune Gulch. Absalom and Bill Myers, in 
prospecting for a new claim, struck a rich vein of gold on 
a little creek flowing into the larger stream. It was richer 
in immediate returns than anything before discovered in 
the gulch. Three days later, another vein was found close 
by the claim where David Preston had worked with the 
energy of despair. If he might have been the one to 
discover its wealth ! So we reason in our weak human 
understanding, not realizing that the Wisdom that orders 
our ways is supreme, and that the best is always provided 
for his children. 

The news of the discoveries spread like wildfire through 
all the region. The rush to Fortune Gulch was tremen- 
dous. The Rose boarding house could not begin to ac- 
commodate the hundreds who made application. Shanties 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


107 


went up as if by magic; another boarding house was 
ready for patronage in one short week; and almost 
before anybody knew it, Fortune Gulch was a busy 
city. 

The evil elements strengthened apace, as might be ex- 
pected under the circumstances ; but for all that desired 
to seek the good and shun the bad, John Rose’s boarding 
house offered a safe refuge. It was the centre of Chris- 
tian activity. 

About this time, Hornie, the little cow that had done 
so much toward promoting Bessie’s comfort and health, 
died. Much as they felt attached to Tige, the ox, Absa- 
lom decided that it was best to sell him and the wagon. 
This was an easy thing to do in the new prosperity that 
had come to the place. The amount thus realized was 
put away for Bessie. 

Bill Myers was going home. His long, patient labor 
had been rewarded. 

“ I’ve made my pile at last, pard,” he said to Absalom, 
the night before he was to turn his face eastward, “ an’ so 
hev ye. I kin pay every cent I owe, an’ be a rich man 
still. But, pard, the best thing these yer diggin’s hez 
brought us ain’t gold, though thet woz needed bad, but 
the love ov Christ. I wouldn’t hev been fit ter go back 
ter my wife an’ the childern, ef it wozn’t fur thet. We 
woz a goin’ down hill fast, pard, afore thet day when 
David Preston cum in yer with thet baby.” 


108 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


“ Thet’s so, ole man,” answered Absalom, wiping the 
tears away with his brawny hand. “ God’s bin good ter 
us sinners. I’m glad, pard, thet ye kin go home ter them 
thet’s waited long fur ye. We’ve bin pards a good while, 
an’ we’ve struck it rich tergether. I’ve got nobody but 
Bessie, an’ now I must hunt up her folks. When ye git 
back East, ole man, jest keep yer ears open fur enybody 
by the name ov Preston, won’t ye ? I’m feared I kin 
never git hold ov Jem Flanigan, nor them papers, though 
I ’low I’ll try. It seems ez ef I should die to giv’ Bessie 
up, fur she’s the fust airthly thing thet ever’s loved ole 
Absalom sence I cud remember. But, in course, her fine 
friends wouldn’t want a rough ole feller like me around 
their little gal. But now I’ve got the Lord Jesus Christ, 
I won’t never be so lonesome eny more, even when Bess 
goes.” 

It will be seen that Absalom had perfect faith in the 
ultimate discovery of Bessie’s friends. The how and 
when were hidden from his view, but his thorough confi- 
dence that they would be revealed in God’s good time, 
was not to be shaken. 

Bill readily promised to be on the lookout for any 
people by the name of Preston. Next morning, the stage, 
which had already begun running between Monte Christo 
and Fortune Gulch, bore him away from the scene of so 
much weary, discouraging labor, and from the eyes of the 
brethren who loved him for Christ’s sake. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


109 


Even at this very time, the California papers contained 
the following advertisement : 

“ Information is wanted regarding David Preston and his little 
daughter Elizabeth, supposed to be somewhere in the mining re- 
gions. A liberal reward will be given for any facts which will 
lead to their discovery. If this should meet the eye of David 
Preston himself, let him rest assured that a loving welcome awaits 
him and his. Address all communications to Charles Preston, 
River Plains, Connecticut.” 

All through the State this last despairing effort of anx- 
ious hearts to discover the whereabouts of missing loved 
ones was carried. Many read it, wondering idly who 
David Preston could be. It was brought even into For- 
tune Gulch, wrapped around a parcel sent to John Rose. 
Too hurried and busy to note its contents, he cast it idly 
by to meet its fate at the hands of Bessie herself, who 
tore it into fragments to see the breeze whirl it down the 
canon, never dreaming what a priceless boon to Absa- 
lom’s anxious heart it would have been. Thus did the 
child let the wind carry away the key to her place in the 
world. 


CHAPTER XII. 


A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK. 

B EFORE Bill Myers was fairly on his long journey 
eastward, by way of the plains, Absalom had kissed 
Bessie good-bye for a time, feeling that it was safe to leave 
her in the care of good Janet Rose. Times had greatly 
changed in Fortune Gulch. Women were now no un- 
common sight in the place, while conveniences and even 
luxuries from the outer world were brought to their very 
doors. Absalom had sold his share of the claim for an 
amount that assured him independence for the rest of his 
life; and he might easily be reckoned a rich man. His 
whole thought now was for Bessie. All his wealth was 
valued for her sake alone, and he devoted himself with 
intense eagerness to the search for Jem Flanigan, and the 
papers that could supply the missing information in re- 
gard to her friends. Means were now at hand in abun- 
dance with which to employ all the resources of the law. 

If he could only find the rascal, Jem Flanigan ! Or, 
failing this, Leviticus might be able to throw light on 
the matter. He determined to consult the best lawyer in 
the city, and get his advice in regard to the wisest method 
of procedure in this difficult matter. He knew that gold 
110 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Ill 


was a potent key when there are hidden mysteries to he 
unlocked. Gratefully he thanked God for giving it to 
him in such bountiful measure. 

Absalom’s first quest, after reaching Sacramento, was 
for a barber’s shop. He emerged with his beard neatly 
trimmed, and with the long, unkempt locks shorn from 
his head. Having taken this first step toward a civilized 
appearance, he next visited a tailor’s shop, where he pur- 
chased a neat business suit. When he emerged from his 
room at the hotel, having shed his rough miner’s cloth- 
ing, his best friends would not have known him. 

After the transformation was complete, before going 
out on tlie street, he viewed himself iu the glass for some 
moments with varied emotions. 

“ Absalom,” he said to himself, “ you’ve shed a good 
many things besides clothes. The ole name hez bin for- 
got so long, it ’ll be like a new one. Richard Trent 
you are, Absalom, God helpin’, a man among men at 
last. 

And, indeed, our friend, Richard Trent, bore small re- 
semblance to the Absalom of the mines. The long, tangled 
hair, now cropped close, had hidden a finely shaped head. 
His face was rugged, to be sure, but full of strength, with 
a suggestion of tenderness not at all allied to weakness. 
Conversion had brought out the innate fineness and gold 
of his nature. Bessie had been the first instrument in 
leading him toward the better things of the present, and 


112 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


the transforming power of the gospel, which develops as 
well as uplifts, had made him a noble man. 

Having made himself presentable, he was ready to see 
the lawyer. He had an idea that as Bessie’s representa- 
tive, it was incumbent on him to he as respectable in ap- 
pearance as possible. He could not speak the language 
of civilization, to be sure, but he would guard his crooked 
tongue as far as in him lay. Perhaps the raiment of the 
outer world, which he had put on, would aid him in as- 
suming more polite forms of speech. 

His choice had fallen upon the most eminent lawyer in 
Sacramento. He was fortunate in securing an early au- 
dience with the busy man. Mr. Stanton was greatly 
interested in the simple, ingenuous way in which our old 
friend told the matter. By skillful questions the lawyer 
was soon in possession of the whole story of the occur- 
rences at Fortune Gulch. 

It was, indeed, a rarely fascinating case. Mr. Stanton 
was a man of quick sympathy, a trait not often found 
among eminent members of his profession. Perhaps the 
heart becomes hardened by the continual dealing with 
trouble and woe. Little Bessie Preston, left alone in a 
rough mining camp, at the mercy of the men, yet finding 
such loyal, true-hearted devotion, was enough to arouse 
all the chivalric enthusiasm of his nature. He was ready, 
not only as a professional man, but also as a friend, to do 
all in his power to unravel the mystery of her young life. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


313 


As he sat talking over the case, a sudden remembrance 
seemed to strike him. Turning to his file of papers, he 
soon found the advertisement to which reference has been 
made, and read it aloud to Richard Trent. After he had 
finished, he asked : 

“Isn’t that your David Preston and his child, Mr. 
Trent?” 

“I reckon it must be,” was Richard’s reply. “But 
how shall we go to work about it ? ” 

“ I will attend to the matter for you,” replied Mr. 
Stanton. “ I will write out the dates you have given me, 
and send the facts on to this Charles Preston who has ad- 
vertised for them. It will take my letter some time to 
reach him, and an equal length of time for an answer to 
return ; but in such an important matter as this you can 
afford to have patience. If it were not for this clue, we 
should have been compelled to advertise in Eastern pa- 
pers for the child’s friends, and that would have involved 
an indefinite amount of time. 

“ I don’t keer so much,” said Richard Trent, as we 
must now call him, “jest so we kin git her ’cross the 
plains afore winter. It ’ll break me all up when she 
goes, but thet ain’t nothin’ ter puttin’ her whar she be- 
longs. Ain’t’ there no way ter git hold ov Jem Flanigan ? 
Them papers mought be ov value aside from tellin’ whar 
her folks be.” 

“ That is true,” said Mr. Stanton. “ I should like to 
H 


114 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


see the villain brought to justice, myself, and the papers 
ought to he secured, if possible. There is a detective 
agency here in the city, and perhaps we could get track 
of the rascal with its help. I should get out a warrant 
for Leviticus too ; for, no doubt, he was in complicity with 
this Flanigan. I know the old reprobate. He is up to 
some dirty piece of work most of the time.” 

« Can’t I git ye ter look arter the hull ov the bizness, 
Mr. Stanton ? Thar’s gold ter pay ye well for all the 
trouble, an’ I shouldn’t grudge most eny amount to git 
back that yer box.” 

Mr. Stanton readily agreed to act in the case for Rich- 
ard Trent, and all necessary preliminaries having been 
concluded, he hastened back to Fortune Gulch. 

As he descended from the stage, and walked through 
the narrow, straggling main street of the town toward the 
Rose House, as the place was now called, no one recog- 
nized him. And no wonder. This respectable man, with 
hair and beard well trimmed, and clothes that fitted his 
tall form, was surely a stranger in the place. Having 
reached the house, he opened the door and went in. Pete 
sniffed inquiringly at his feet, and then gave a joyful bark 
of recognition. Mrs. Rose came forward, wiping her 
hands, to meet the supposed stranger. 

Richard Trent set down his satchel, and laughed. 

“ So ye don’t know yer ole friends,” he said. 

The voice was familiar and unmistakable. “Why, 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


115 


Absalom,” she exclaimed, seizing his hand, “ what have 
you been doing to yourself? ” 

“ It isn t Absalom any more, ma’am,” he answered, 
gravely. “ Thet ole name hez gone with the ole life. 
I’ve gone back ter the name my father gave me, Richard 
Trent.” 

J ust then Bessie came running in. She paused, and 
looked earnestly into the man’s face. He smiled, and 
with a glad shout of “ Daddy ! ” “ Daddy ! ” she sprang 
into his arms. Yet she was puzzled by the change. She 
passed her hands over his face, and over his shorn head. 
It seemed doubtful whether she would really approve 
of the transformation. Richard held her close, and pres- 
ently she gave a long sigh, and laid her head against 
his breast, as if assured that she was at home in his arms 
once more. 

It was hard for the men to get used to his new name, 
and to his changed appearance. Absalom was manifestly 
an inappropriate name for this well-dressed, fine-looking 
man. John Rose called him Richard ; his old mates 
shortened it to Dick ; while the rougher men, supplying 
an adjective, called him Gentleman Dick. To any and 
all he answered, excepting only the old name of Absalom. 
That he had cast behind him at once and forever. 

“ Are ye goin’ inter the diggin’s agin, Dick ? ” asked 
one of the men the day after his return. 

“ No, I’ve made as big a pile ez I need, an’ I’m through. 


116 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


It’s a dog’s life, at the best, an’ I’m goin’ ter look fur a 
a different sort ov work.” 

While Richard Trent was waiting patiently in the 
mountains for results from the lawyer’s efforts on Bessie s 
behalf, others were not idle. Slippery Jack, as his cro- 
nies called him, was otherwise known as John Means, a 
pettifogger and fourth-rate lawyer of Sacramento, to the 
general world. He had the reputation of being shrewd 
in handling the dirty side of a case, and in securing the 
acquittal of criminals on trial for transgressions against 
the law. To him had been consigned the box of papers 
Jem Flanigan had sent from Fortune Gulch by the hand 
of Leviticus. Unscrupulous in his methods, he had soon 
a full knowledge of the contents of the box. Realizing 
the great importance of the papers, and the possible re- 
sults to the one holding them in possession, he kept a 
sharp lookout for anything bearing upon the matter. His 
watchful eye saw the advertisement inquiring after in- 
formation of David Preston and his little daughter, and 
like the shrewd, calculating villain he was, he set his 
wits to work to see how he could cause it to turn to his 
advantage. The reward,— that was worth trying for, — his 
fingers itched to get hold of that, and there might be 
other material good growing out of it to the man who 
could supply the needed information. The papers gave 
him a clue to the necessity of discovering David Preston. 
Leviticus had told him nothing when delivering him the 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


117 


box, and evidently he was expected to have no further 
part in the matter than as custodian of the package. He 
must find Jem Flanigan, or the old Jew, and without 
exciting their suspicions worm from them what he 
wanted to know. Where had Jem found the box? and 
were David Preston and the child tangible realities to be 
found in the California mines ? 

One thing prevented him from answering the adver- 
tisement. He could give no information whatever of the 
missing parties, and he might be called to account for his 
possession of the papers. That might have been a simple 
and easy thing for an honest man to explain, but involved 
as he was with all sorts of guilty secrets, it might be per- 
ilous to his interests to invite investigation. His only 
hope was to find Jem Flanigan, or Leviticus. 

Thus it came about that there were two distinct lines 
of search for the ex-saloon-keeper of Fortune Gulch, and 
his crony and partner in crime, Leviticus the Jew. 

John Means was a man of expedients. He recalled 
the fact that when the box was sent to his care, Jem was 
at Fortune Gulch, near Monte Christo. Thither would 
he first go in search of him. The chances were against 
finding him there, in this land of roving spirits. Still, it 
must be the starting point of his trail. 

Therefore, one Friday evening, a little later, the stage 
set down John Means in Fortune Gulch. Flashily dressed, 
with a great paste diamond in his shirt front, an enor- 


118 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


mous seal ring on his finger, he fancied he must impress 
the inhabitants with a sense of his importance. The town 
now boasted a thousand population, with half a dozen sa- 
loons. Mr. Means visited each of these in turn, ordered 
drinks with pompous grace, treated the crowd, and made 
inquiries for Jem Flanigan. But that personage was not 
behind any of the various bars, neither did any amount 
of questioning elicit information regarding him. The 
great rush into Fortune Gulch had occurred since Jem’s 
time, and the present frequenters of the saloon had never 
heard of the man. Three years ago is often a buried 
past in a mining town. 

Neither could John Means hear aught of David Pres- 
ton. He was too shrewd to inquire outright, and he kept 
aloof from the Rose House, the very place where he might 
have learned all he wanted to know. But being told that 
it was the headquarters of a pious, psalm-singing crew, he 
avoided the place as altogether uncongenial to a gentle- 
man of his stamp, little dreaming that thus he was miss- 
ing the great object of his visit to the town. We know 
well what they could have told him : of the solitary grave 
down the gulch, of the friendless and yet befriended 
child, and the wrong which had been done her. But it 
was better that he should not learn all this, and that 
other hands should straighten the tangle that had crept 
into her life. After a week’s stay, he went back to 
Sacramento, still in search of Jem Flanigan, and Leviti- 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


119 


cus the Jew. He was now without a single clue to 
follow. But believing the old adage, “All things come 
to those who wait,” he settled himself in his den, and 
kept a sharp lookout for any stray information that 
might enlighten his way. Had he known all the com- 
plications of the case, he would have realized something 
of the perils of his own position. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


THE FINDING OF JEM FLANIGAN. 

ND where was Jem Flanigan ? He seemed to 



have vanished from the face of the earth as 
completely as if it had opened and swallowed him up. 

Our last knowledge of the man was his hasty flight 
from Fortune Gulch, in the darkness of the night, flee- 
ing from the vengeance of the men who had detected 
his crime. He knew the rope was in readiness to hang 
him, and he had no recourse but to risk his life out on 
the treacherous trail, rather than face his incensed com- 
panions. He was a rank coward, and his guilty con- 
science made the prospect of death a terror. 

As we have seen, he could only follow the single trail 
that led to the Flat No other was open in winter. 
Along this trail his pursuers would come, he knew, but 
he did not think they would be so foolhardy as to start 
before they had daylight to show the way. If he could 
only reach Monte Christo before them, he believed he 
might yet escape. 

It was a fearful night’s experience. Not for worlds 
would he have attempted this headlong plunge down the 
mountain in the darkness, were not the avenging men 


120 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


121 


probably close on his track. A single false step might 
hurl him down unfathomable depths. But on he must 
go, and as he staggered blindly forward, he bitterly 
repented that he had ever yielded to the temptation for 
revenge, and brought himself into this perilous position. 
He despaired of ever seeing the blessed light of day 
again, and yet he feared to see it, lest it should bring his 
pursuers upon him. 

As dawn reddened over the mountains, he found him- 
self not far from Pietown Gulch. His familiarity with 
the trail had served him well. He was weak and faint 
with hunger, and chilled to the heart with cold. But 
how could he account for his presence at that early 
hour to the men in this half-way camp? No sane man 
would make a night journey over the trail he had just 
traversed. He dared not wait until a reasonable hour 
before presenting himself, and he must have food, and a 
chance to warm his nearly frozen limbs, or perish. 

His fertile brain invented a story which might gain 
credence. And boldly showing himself to the astonished 
camp, he told them he had started from Fortune Gulch 
at noon the preceding day, intending to pass the night 
with them in Pietown. A snow-slide had nearly buried 
him alive, and with great difficulty he had extricated 
himself, and worked his way across to the open trail. 
Night had overtaken him, and he had well-nigh perished 
while feeling his way onward in the darkness. 


122 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


The appearance of the man corroborated his story. 
He told it in a way that gave it an air of probability, 
and the men believed him. Warmed and fed, he pre- 
pared to push on. They remonstrated, saying he needed 
rest after such hardship. But he refused to stay, declar- 
ing that pressing business called him to the Flat. 

Little did the men imagine the nature of his pressing 
business. Escaped from their kind attentions, and re- 
vived by the food and warmth, Jem Flanigan hastened 
on, reaching Monte Christo by noon. 

Well was it for him that he had hurried on. Before 
noon, the pursuing party had reached Pietown Gulch. 
We have seen how he eluded them and made good his 
escape, leaving them to return to their camp, disappointed 
and disgusted with their failure. 

It was mid-afternoon when Jem Flanigan left the Flat. 
He slipped out of town so quietly that no one noticed 
him as he took an obscure trail leading up into the 
mountains, in a direction opposite to that leading to For- 
tune Gulch. He reasoned that the men in pursuit would 
naturally look for him in Sacramento, or “ Frisco,” as 
San Francisco was called on the coast. He could not 
afford to run any risks, and disappeared so effectually, 
that he left no trace behind. 

On he traveled, from one camp to another, as the 
weather would permit, till at last he located himself in a 
place well up the valley of the Sacramento. The saloon- 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


123 


keeper had just been killed in a drunken brawl, and Jem 
happened along in time to take his place. As the dead 
man had no friends within the knowledge of the camp, 
it considered itself his heir in the matter of the posses- 
sions he left behind. Jem Flanigan, passing under the 
name of Patrick Maloney, bought the establishment at 
the nominal value set by the men, paid for it in gold- 
dust, and was once more king in his chosen domain. He 
had no fear of sharing the fate of his predecessor. 

“ Whar thar’s shootin’, boys,” he would say, “ it’s the 
first shot that’s after killin’, an’ I ginerally gits the first 
shot.” 

He was surely safe, he thought, from this other danger 
that was far more threatening than a drunken row. Was 
he not far up in the mountains, where only the most 
adventurous and daring penetrated in their search for 
gold ? Patrick Maloney, of Sugar Loaf Camp, certainly 
could never be identified with Jem Flanigan, wanted at 
Fortune Gulch to answer for a crime that was beyond 
the pale of forgiveness. 

The new man must be fond of Sugar Loaf Camp, the 
miners thought, when he refused to leave it, even in the 
opening summer, to replenish his stock of liquors. To 
be sure, he was master of his trade ; but when he hired one 
of their number to go down to Sacramento, and bring 
back all he needed in connection with it, they shrewdly 
suspected that he was in hiding. But what cared they ? 


124 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Few men among the Californian camps would be willing to 
have everything in their past lives known to the world. 
Jem did send a letter to the city to give Leviticus a hint 
of his whereabouts, but as that worthy was in jail in 
San Francisco, on a year’s sentence, it failed to reach 
him. But as life was moving on smoothly with our old 
acquaintance at Sugar Loaf Camp, he did not worry 
himself greatly over the Jew’s unaccountable silence. 
The trade was a profitable one in his new location ; there 
were no troublesome rival attractions to diminish his 
profits, and altogether he was beginning to feel very 
much at home. 

Meanwhile, keen-eyed detectives were at work. Mr. 
Stanton had lost no time in setting the machinery of the 
detective bureau in operation, and under the potency of 
promised rewards, they had found the scent, and were 
slowly working their way upon the track of their prey. 
Quietly, and unknown to the dwellers in that mountain 
region, every trail had been investigated, and the roll 
call of every camp inspected. From the Flat the trail 
was finally struck, and from camp to camp, up the 
ascending paths, his course was traced. Every resting 
place in his journey was noted. Step by step, like a 
relentless fate, was discovery approaching his hiding 
place. It came upon him like a thunderbolt out of a 
clear sky. He had never felt safer nor more secure than 
on the golden summer day when an officer of the law 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


125 


stepped into his saloon, saying, as he tapped him upon 
the shoulder : 

“ James Flanigan, you are my prisoner ! ” 

It was of no use to resist. There could be no appeal 
to his ready revolver, with another threatening him. 
The men were all at the diggings, and they cared too 
little for him to resist the law on his behalf had they 
been there. 

No time was given him to arrange his business. Out- 
.side the door appeared another man, and the hapless 
prisoner was marched away, being allowed to take only 
his gold dust with him. Down the mountain they went, 
in stern silence, camping out at meal-times and at night 
until they reached the Flat. From here they went by 
stage till they reached Sacramento, and the guilty 
man was safely lodged in jail under guard of iron 
bars. 

There had not been time for an answer to arrive from 
the East in answer to Mr. Stanton’s letter. But he 
rubbed his hands together in great satisfaction, for, with 
the papers in his possession, he could the better act in the 
case. A messenger was at once sent to Fortune Gulch 
to summon Richard Trent and Bessie. 

Bob Burns was still in the place, and taking him 
along as a witness, Richard and Bessie hastened to Sacra- 
mento. The child was neatly and tastefully dressed in 
the clothing Richard had taken her from the city upon 


126 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


his former visit, and a sweeter, lovelier little maiden it 
would be hard to find. 

In due time the trial came on. Jem Flanigan had 
chosen John Means as his lawyer. Jem stubbornly 
denied all knowledge of the box. The testimony of 
Richard Trent and Bob Burns showed only circumstan- 
tial evidence, and as Jem would give no reason for his 
sudden flight from Fortune Gulch, the matter was sadly 
muddled. The jury and audience were thoroughly con- 
vinced of his guilt, but absolute proof was wanting to. 
convict him. 

So he was acquitted. Wily John Means thought he 
saw his opportunity, and sent a message to Mr. Stanton, 
saying that the box might be found if it was made 
enough of an object to those in possession. The lawyer 
consulted Richard Trent. 

“ Why, yes ; I’d be willin’ ter giv' considerbul to git 
hold ov them papers ; only I hate ter hev them raskils 
git off scott free, an’ with a reward in the bargain.” 

“ I am afraid it is the best we can do,” replied Mr. 
Stanton. So negotiations were opened, which resulted in 
the delivery of the box that very day. 

Richard Trent produced the key and opened it. The 
papers lay there as of old, but where was the bag of 
gold ? Richard asked this question excitedly. 

“ What bag of gold ? ” exclaimed Mr. Stanton. When 
he had learned the facts, he sprang up, saying : “ We 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


127 


must issue a warrant for the arrest of John Means at 
once for theft ! We’ll have them yet.” 

So, to his utter astonishment, Slippery Jack soon found 
himself a prisoner in turn. He had known nothing of 
the bag of gold in the box when it was stolen, else he 
had been more wary. 

To clear himself at the trial, it was necessary for him 
to tell the whole story of receiving it from Jem Flanigan, 
by the hand of Leviticus. So Jem was once more a 
prisoner ; charged anew with the crime of which he had 
been acquitted. The result was that he was sentenced to 
a long term in the penitentiary ; while John Means was 
sent to keep him company for a time for complicity in 
receiving stolen goods. 

It seemed very strange, that after so long a time 
justice had been meted out to these rank offenders ; and 
that John Means had been caught in a trap of his own 
devising. He had long been suspected of being an aider 
and abettor of the lawless men who were subverting the 
good order and safety of the State. People breathed 
more freely, and great was the rejoicing over his downfall. 

Mrs. Stanton had taken Bessie into her own motherly 
charge. * Her whole heart went out to the child with 
such a strange history, yet unspoiled by her sojourn in 
the mining camp. The story of Richard Trent and his 
ward was soon spread abroad, exciting much interest. 
He found himself quite a lion, a notoriety very displeas- 


128 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


ing to his humble, simple nature. He could not see 
anything remarkable in what he had done. No one 
with a spark of manhood about him could have helped 
caring for the poor little orphan, left alone in such a sad 
and pitiful fashion. The debt was on his side, as he 
thought. She had done far more for him than he ever 
had done for her. 

Mrs. Stanton was fast becoming so attached to Bessie 
that I do not think she would have mourned greatly if 
no tidings of distant friends had ever come to take the 
child away. For the gift of children of their own had 
been denied to the Stantons, and this left a void in Mrs. 
Stanton’s generous heart that never had been filled. She 
really coveted Bessie, and often said to her husband, 
before the finding of the box, with the important tidings 
it contained, that if Bessie remained unclaimed, they 
must adopt her as a daughter of the house. Perhaps she 
did not sufficiently take into consideration Kichard’s 
claim to the little waif. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


REVELATIONS. 

TT was with no little trepidation that Richard Trent 
entered Mr. Stanton’s library on the evening of the 
day in which they had recovered the box. The papers, 
over which there had been an endless amount of anxiety 
and trouble, were at last to be made to tell their story. 
They had been the cause of crime, and well-nigh blood- 
shed. A little care might have prevented it all ; but 
as the camp did not suspect a traitor among its in- 
habitants, no one could be blamed for lack of precau- 
tions against treachery. Richard felt the time drawing 
near when he must give Bessie up to her rightful guardi- 
ans. He thanked the Lord every day that she had been 
lent to be such a blessing to him and to others, and for 
her sake he was glad that better things were probably in 
store for her than it was in his power to give ; yet his 
heart was very heavy in view of his own future loneli- 
ness. 

Mr. Stanton was awaiting his coming. The papers 
were arranged carefully upon the desk, and a letter lay 
beside them. 

“This matter is proving interesting,” he said, with a 
1 129 


130 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


smile of welcome. “Your little girl has bright prospects 
before her.” 

Richard sat down in silence, waiting for the revelations 
he had longed for, yet dreaded to know. 

“ This,” said Mr. Stanton, taking up one of the papers 
and unfolding it, “is a certificate of marriage between 
David Preston and Elizabeth Chandler, dated seven years 
ago, in Oldport, Maine. These letters tell the story of a 
misunderstanding between David Preston and his parents 
on account of this marriage. It seems they were opposed 
to the match on purely money grounds, and in a fit of 
hot-headed rage he left the East and came to California. 
His father was the one who made the trouble, his mother 
standing his friend all through, yet not daring to oppose 
her husband openly. His only crime had been that he 
had married a portionless girl. He made a vow never to 
return East until he could go back rich and independent 
of his father. I tell you, those letters from his mother, 
begging him to reconsider his rash promise, would touch 
a heart of stone.” 

The old-fashioned daguerreotype Richard had seen be- 
fore. He leaned eagerly forward to look at it, as Mr. 
Stanton said : 

“This is the picture of Bessie’s mother. Here is a 
paper inserted in the case, on which is written : ‘ My wife 
Elizabeth. A sweeter woman ne’er drew breath. For 
Bessie, her namesake.’ ” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


131 


Richard Trent studied the lovely face long and intently. 
It was like an angel vision. Did his Bessie have such 
a mother ? His own claim to the child grew dim and 
shadowy. » 

“I gather from the letters,” Mr; Stanton continued, 
“ that he was never successful in California. He tried 
various things, bought a little home down in the foothills, 
and made a brave struggle, until his wife died three years 
ago. This was a crushing blow and unsettled him. I 
suspect that it crazed his brain a little. He thought he 
could not go home empty-handed, for his father had never 
sent him a word of forgiveness.” 

“ Bid thet ole man think the Lord cud forgive him ? ” 
asked Richard, with startling suddenness. 

“ I don’t suppose he thought of that side of the matter. 
Anyhow, it did not influence him to show mercy to his 
son.” 

“ Bid you find out all thet from them letters? ” asked 
Richard, admiringly. 

“Yes, from his mother’s letters to him. They were 
evidently in reply to his letters to her. They are so full 
of loving sympathy that it is easy to read the other side 
of the story.” 

“Preston left his home,” he continued, “not selling it, 
for the deed is among the papers ; and taking his little 
girl came up into the mountains to dig for gold. There 
are no letters from his mother dated later than three years 


132 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


ago, because, after writing her that he was going to seek 
his fortune in the gold regions, he evidently drifted from 
place to place, buoyed up by the hope that any day he 
mio'ht find rich treasures that would enable him to fly 

o 

homeward.” 

“ I understand,” said Richard. “ He never struck it 
rich, but woz allers a hopin’ to.” 

“ The rest,” said Mr. Stanton, “ I gather from this letter 
which I received to-day, in answer to mine sent at your 
request. Shall I read it ? ” 

Richard Trent nodded. The story was inexpressibly 
sad, and he saw again in memory the vision of a pale, 
haggard man, desperately searching for hidden treasures 
that never revealed themselves to his gaze, although they 
lay close by where he toiled day after day. And this 
was the letter : 

“Dear* Sir: The description given in your letter, just re- 
ceived, seems to point unmistakably to our son, David Preston, 
and his child. Bessie, as you say her father called her, is un- 
doubtedly a contraction of Elizabeth. We had not heard from 
our son for three years, at which time he wrote that he was going 
into the mining regions, taking the little girl with him. 

“ My husband and I deeply regret the loss of the papers, as 
they would supply the needed proofs of identity. You say that 
the man who has cared for the child has set on foot a search for 
the miscreant who stole them. We will wait for further advices 
from you in the matter. If it appears that she is really our lost 
grandchild, a liberal reward awaits all done in her behalf. 

“My husband’s right arm is paralyzed, therefore I write in 


FORTUNE GULCH. 133 

his name. I beg you to hasten all proceedings, for our hearts 
are sore with long suspense. 

“ Yours very sincerely, 

“Harriet Preston.” 

“ I shouldn’t think they cud wait ! ” exclaimed Richard 
Trent. “ Why, ef I’d waited three years fur news from 
somebody I loved, d’ ye s’pose I’d stop fur better proofs 
than ye sent ’em ? ” He was getting excited. 

“It is evidently the old man, Richard. His heart 
melted sufficiently to seek tidings of his only son as he 
grew helpless in his old age. There is no doubt that 
there is property in the case, as is shown by this will.'’ 
As he spoke, he took up a legal-looking document. 

“ Is that ere a will ? ” asked Richard, curiously. 

“Yes; a will dated three years ago, and a rather 
unusual one too ; for it bequeaths to ‘ Elizabeth, my 
daughter, all my earthly possessions, wherever and 
whenever found.’ That looks as if he was a little un- 
certain about the value or amount of those posses- 
sions.” 

“ What are the rest ov them papers ? ” inquired Richard 
Trent. 

“ This one,” said the lawyer, taking a single sheet of 
paper from the table, “ directs that in case of his death, 
notice should be forwarded to Charles Preston, Esq., of 
River Plains, Connecticut, who would send for the child. 
As Charles Preston, of River Plains, was the name signed 


134 FORTUNE GULCH. 

to the advertisement, it furnishes the absolute proof 
they ask.” 

“ Ef we cud only hev had them papers in the start ! ” 
groaned Richard, “It would hev saved a powerful sight 
o’ trouble. But it’s a ’cornin’ out all right now.” 

A sealed envelope, with bulky contents, was lying 
beside the other papers. “ This,” remarked Mr. Stanton, 
“has written upon its face, ‘For my dear daughter 
Bessie. Not to be opened until her eighteenth birth- 
day.’ ” 

“An’ jest to think how near she kum to losin’ it!” 
exclaimed Richard. “ But how’s she ter know when her 
birthday cums ? ” 

“The record of it is here,” said Mr. Stanton, “on the 
back of the marriage certificate. ‘Born, January 15, 
18 — , to David and Elizabeth Preston, a son, Charles 
David. Died, March 13, 18—.’ ” 

“ Shoo ! ” said Richard, pityingly. “ Ef it hed a’ 
lived, Bessie would hev had a brother.” 

“ ‘Born, July 15, 18 — , a daughter, Elizabeth Harriet.’ ” 

“ Two years younger than the boy, wozn’t she ? ” re- 
marked Richard. “Well, the little feller woz saved a 
heap o’ hard times, sure.” 

Mr. Stanton gathered up the papers, and began putting 
them back carefully and in order in the box. But he 
seemed preoccupied, and presently he said : 

“ I haven’t told you quite all yet, Richard.” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 135 

“ What’s the rest ov it,” asked the other. “ I’ve heerd 
enough now to keep my eyes open all night.” 

“ Two years ago, an advertisement appeared in the 
papers, inquiring for David Preston, or his heirs. His 
little property in the foothills had turned out to have a 
silver mine upon it, and parties were anxious to find the 
owner of the land. I have a habit of keeping a file of 
every such thing, and often I find it of use to me. I 
sent down an inquiry after you were here, and have found 
out that it is very valuable indeed. So little Bessie will 
not go back empty-handed to her family, after all.” 

“Ef poor Preston cud only hev knowed it!” ejaculated 
Richard, “he might hev bin livin’ in comfort and 
happiness ter day. But the Lord must hev done what 
woz best.” 

“We can’t bring him back to life again, that’s cer- 
tain,” said the lawyer. “ All we can do is to secure to 
Bessie what rightfully belongs to her. I will write to her 
grandparents to-morrow, forwarding the letters and the 
sheet of directions David Preston left behind him, as the 
positive proof they ask for. The handwriting of the 
letter I received to-day, is the same as that of those in 
the box. I presume they will send for the child as soon 
as the word reaches them.” 

“Well, while we’re waitin’, I guess Pll take Bessie up 
to Fortune Gulch. It’s hum up thar ter the child, and 
Janet Rose loves her like her own. She must take a 


136 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


good-bye look at her father’s grave, fur it’s noways likely 
she’ll ever see it agin.” 

So saying, Richard Trent bade the lawyer good-night, 
and went to his hotel, with so much to think over that 
his prophecy of a sleepless night was fulfilled. The long 
mystery was unravelled, and Bessie had a home and 
friends awaiting her in far-distant New England. One 
thing worried him greatly. It was getting late in the 
season, and he feared she would be forced to spend 
another winter in California, unless they sent for her 
speedily. To be sure, there was the route by sea, but he 
could not bear to think of her as undergoing its perils 
and discomforts. It seemed to Richard that she must be 
bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, so mightily did 
his soul cry out for her. Of his future life, solitary and 
alone, he dared not think. It seemed as if it would 
madden him. 

Then came quieter thoughts. She had been lent him 
for a little season, to be the blessing and saving influence 
of his existence. Pure and sweet as she was, unsullied 
by the rude and vile elements in the mines, could he wish 
to keep her from the training and loving watchcare 
which would fit her to be such a woman as her mother 
had been ? How vividly the lovely face he had seen in 
the picture rose before him. Bessie resembled her even 
now, and what would she not be with all the advantages 
of education and culture that wealth could bestow. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


137 


It was all right. He did not deserve anything more than 
had already been given him ; even that was a free gift 
of a loving Heavenly Father to a reckless sinner against 
his grace. For the future, his life should be given to 
helping the needy and perishing for Christ’s sake, and 
for Bessie’s sake, as well. 

Looking up, strengthened and cheered by this resolu- 
tion, the dawn was reddening in the east, and a new day 
was at hand. 

Bessie and Richard were very glad to get back to 
Fortune Gulch once more. The few remaining men who 
had known of her story, rejoiced heartily in her good 
fortune. Janet Rose pressed her tenderly to her heart, 
in loving welcome. 

“ Ah, my lamb,” she said, “ the dear Lord is indeed 
merciful! May he keep thee unspotted from the evil 
that is in the world ! ” 

In due process of time, before he expected it, a letter 
came from Mr. Stanton, summoning them to Sacramento. 
All knew that this was Bessie’s final farewell. Pete 
went with them, and everything that David Preston had 
left behind, that would be of value as mementos, was 
taken. The box of books, a few personal articles, were 
all they could carry the sorrowing mother, save the 
living, loving child. Quite a crowd gathered as the 
Monte Christo stage, which was to take them down the 
mountains, drew up at the door. John and Janet Rose 


138 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


gave Bessie the parting kiss, solemn and tender, “ Rose- 
bud ” was held up for a good-bye hug, and amid a 
chorus of good- wishes and farewells, “ Queen Bess,” as 
they still loved to call her, disappeared from Fortune 
Gulch. She was not old enough to realize the import- 
ance of the occasion, nor that she had reached another 
crisis in her life. All through the journey, Richard 
Trent was tenderly devoted to her comfort. He could 
not say much, for the shadow of parting lay heavy on 
his heart. The hours passed as in a dream. Bessie was 
happily diverted by passing scenes, and thus she jour- 
neyed on toward the new scenes and experiences waiting 
for the coming of her feet. 



























































■ 











' 
























It 


4/A 


v.V'/y/'/s 


Fortune Gulch. 


Page 138 



CHAPTER XV. 


TOWARD THE SUNRISING. 

"VJ7HEN Richard Trent reached Sacramento with his 
T " charge, he was met with surprising intelligence. 
Charles Preston had forwarded ample funds, providing not 
only for the expenses of her journey, hut also for the re- 
warding of those who had befriended Bessie in her loneli- 
ness and need. As they themselves were old and feeble, 
Mr. Preston requested that Richard Trent, who had been 
such a tender and faithful guardian to the child, should 
himself bring her to her home and friends. 

“ I have sent him no reward,” the letter ran, “ because 
money alone can never express our obligation, and we de- 
sire to thank him in person. We could not confide her to 
any care in the long journey with such absolute trust.” 

It will be seen by this that Mr. Stanton had told to the 
distant relatives of Bessie the whole story of Richard’s 
devotion to the child, as far as any such story can be told 
on paper. He wished to show the stern old grandfather 
that there was such a thing in this world as absolutely un- 
selfish service. The idea of going East was new and 
almost overwhelming to Richard Trent. He had come 
to Sacramento fully expecting to meet a messenger sent to 

139 


140 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


take Bessie to her grandparents, although he had been 
puzzled to understand how one could arrive so soon after 
Mr. Stanton’s second communication. The thought that 
there was no parting hour at hand, but that he might go 
with her to her journey's end, and with his own eyes see 
her safe in loving guardianship, was almost too much 
for his self-control. 

“ I don’t want no reward,” he said, brokenly. “ Bessie 
hes bin a greater blessin’ ter me than all I’ve done fur 
her. Its reward ’nuff thet I kin go with her.” 

At Bichard’s suggestion, the money not needed for the 
expenses of the long journey was sent to John Bose, a 
portion of it to be given to Bob Burns, the only one of 
the original members of the camp remaining. 

“ It’ll help worthy folks,” Bichard said. Janet Bose 
did more for the child than any of us. They deserve 
every cent.” 

It was already so late in the season that Bichard felt 
considerable apprehension in regard to the long journey 
across the plains. Inquiry showed that a large wagon 
train was about starting from Sacramento, and Bichard 
made arrangements to join it. He prepared his outfit 
with great care. A large wagon, with heavy canvas 
cover, was fitted up with a comfortable bed for Bessie, and 
as many conveniences as could be stowed away in a small 
space. An ample supply of provisions was laid in, and 
every emergency provided for that human foresight could 


FORTUNE GLECH. 


141 


anticipate. A team of strong horses was purchased, with 
one extra for use in case of need. As the wagons were 
to bring back goods, there was plenty of room in the 
train to carry feed for the animals. Another favorable 
circumstance for our travelers was the fact that the train 
not being heavily loaded on this, its outward journey, 
could push rapidly forward, making excellent time on the 
way. Richard had learned to recognize the hand of 
Providence in all things, and he gratefully thanked God 
for these favorable conditions. Strong animals, and 
plenty of them, abundance of provision and feed, assured 
a quick trip in case of favorable weather. 

It was early in August when the wagon train left 
Sacramento. The teamsters were experienced hands 
in crossing the plains, and knew how to take every ad- 
vantage of the way. The weather was perfect, and they 
were enabled to travel at great speed. 

Bessie seemed to enjoy the whole trip. There was one 
woman in the party, the wife of a miner who was return- 
ing to the States. She was a kind-hearted body, and was 
company for the child when they paused to cook their 
meals at cheerful camp fires, and on the Sundays. 

The head manager of the train was a unique character. 
He could swear like a pirate when angered, and deal a 
stunning blow on occasion ; but he was brave, kind- 
hearted, and firm in hfs refusal to travel on Sunday. 

“ No, mates,” he would say, “ I’ve traveled these ere 


142 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


plains ten times, all told, and the parties that rested them- 
selves and the beasts alius came through fust, and in bet- 
ter shape. The Lord knew what he was about when he 
writ the fourth commandment.” 

So, on the Sunday the long train bivouacked in the 
wilderness. The weary beasts had the luxury of resting 
out of harness for twenty- four hours, and the human be- 
ings also were reminded of their obligation to keep the 
entire decalogue, the careful observance of one command- 
ment reminding them that there were nine others equally 
binding. 

Once only was there exception made to this rule. 
Crossing the dreaded sage-brush region, where water was 
scarce, and the streams far apart, they were compelled to 
push on in mercy to their beasts, which were in danger of 
becoming alkalized, in which case they must be left 
behind to perish. So through this region of death they 
hurried, feeling sure that the exigencies of the situation 
made the act no violation of the spirit of the command- 
ment. 

They succeeded in passing it with less loss and suffering 
than is usual, three horses only being sacrificed, one of 
these being the extra animal belonging to Richard’s 
ontfit. 

The story of the long, weary way from the shore of the 
Pacific to the boundaries of Eastern civilization has been 
told many times, over and over. Therefore, we will not 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


143 


describe the trip of our travelers in detail. Suffice it to 
say that, thanks to the kind Providence who watches over 
his children, the journey was one of remarkable comfort 
and pleasure. The hindrances and difficulties of the way 
were passed with unusual ease, while the unpleasant ex- 
periences were reduced to a minimum. Michael Brown, 
the captain of the train, declared it was the easiest and 
quickest trip he ever had made. 

“ And I believe,” he said, “ that it was all on account 
of that little girl. A blessin’ seemed to foller us all the 
way.” 

“ It was the old camp experience over again. Bessie 
did, indeed, seem to carry prosperity and success wherever 
she went, since the time when her lonely, orphaned con- 
dition left her at the mercy of kindly hearts. 

It was the middle of October when they reached Coun- 
cil Bluffs, the terminus of the wagon route. Goods were 
shipped up the Missouri River from St. Louis to this 
point, where they were loaded into wagons and taken by 
the overland route for the California trade. The train 
with which our friends had come proposed to winter 
at Council Bluffs, and be ready to return when spring 
opened. 

It was with real regret that Richard Trent bade good- 
bye to his traveling companions, after having disposed 
of his outfit, for it was the last link with his old life in 
California. But all things having been accomplished, he 


144 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


and Bessie were soon en route for New England. This 
part of the journey was really more wearisome than the 
traveling by wagon. Richard and Bessie attracted much 
attention on the cars. The elderly, respectably dressed 
man, with his rugged face, 'which expressed the innate 
goodness of his heart, belonged evidently to a different 
class of society from that of the dainty little maiden in 
his care. Mrs. Stanton had attended to the matter of the 
child’s dress, so that she might go to her grandparents 
suitably attired. Many were the inquiries elicited, to all 
of which Richard gave answer with the utmost good- 
nature. So it came about that all the through passengers 
became acquainted with the strange story of the little one, 
and it excited great interest. 

The journey by rail occupied two days and a night. 
Bessie was very tired before it ended. The continual 
rattle and rush were distressing to the pair who had been 
accustomed to the solitude and quiet of the mountains. 

It came to an end at last, and Richard felt a desperate 
failure of his courage. He dreaded to meet those fine 
friends of Bessie, realizing keenly the fact that he was 
only a rough, California miner. Mr. Stanton had written 
advising the Prestons of the departure of the travelers 
in the wagon train across the plains, but as they had no 
means of knowing definitely the date of their arrival, 
there was no one at the station to meet them. The jour- 
ney had been performed with such unusual speed that 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


145 


they were at their destination before any one had begun 
to look for them. Therefore, Richard was obliged to 
inquire his way to Charles Preston’s house. 

It was one of the most imposing residences in the town, 
and was not hard to find. As he approached it, its air 
of massive grandeur caused his heart to misgive him more 
than ever. But he said, resolutely, to himself: 

Richard Trent, be a man ! Yer duty leads ye inter 
that house, an’ when you’ve given Bessie inter the hands 
ov them thet hez a right to her, then ye kin leave an’ 
find yer own level amongst folks.” 

A solemn, dignified servant answered his ring. Rich- 
ard said, simply : 

“ Tell Mrs. Preston thet little Bessie is here.” 

A look of surprise came into the man’s impassive face, 
and he escorted Richard Trent, with Bessie in his arms, 
across a wide hall into a cozy, well-lighted room, where 
were seated a stern-looking old man, and a sweet, tender- 
faced old lady, whose snow-white hair fell in silvery waves 
over her forehead. As our friend Richard entered with 
the child, she started up, pressing her hands tightly over 
her heart. He walked straight up to her, saying : 

“ This is little Bessie, ma’am, from Californy.” 

Sitting down, she stretched out her hands in unspeak- 
able longing. Richard placed the child on her lap, 
where she was clasped to her grandmother’s breast, while 

a rain of hot tears and kisses were showered upon her. 

K 


146 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Bewildered and frightened, Bessie turned to her old 
friend. 

“ Thet’s yer own grandma, Bessie,” he said, soothingly. 
“ Ye’ve got home now.” 

But the child would not rest till she was back in the 
arms that had been her refuge through the most of her 
brief remembrance. Old Mr. Preston had risen, and was 
standing beside her. His tall form was trembling, and 
as the lines of his stern countenance softened, the resem- 
blance to a worn, haggard face they had laid out of sight 
in Fortune Gulch almost startled Richard. 

“ Is this my son’s child, Elizabeth? ” he asked, solemnly. 

With a feeling, as if he were demanding of him a 
sacred trust, Richard answered, gravely : 

“It is the child David Preston died an’ left in the 
Californy mountains.” 

The palsied right arm refused to do its owner’s bidding. 
He could not take the little one, as he manifestly longed 
to do, but he pressed a kiss upon her brow, a kiss of full 
recognition of the wee maiden as a daughter of the house. 
Then he turned to Richard, and grasped his hand with 
his o’wn left hand. 

“ Are you the Richard Trent that the lawyer mentioned 
as having been the child’s guardian since her father left 
her?” 

Bowing his head in the humility that he most sincerely 
felt, Richard answered : 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


14 ? 


“ Richard Trent is my name. I dun the best I cud 
fur the little one ; but life is rough-like in the mines, an’ 
thar woz nary woman fur months. My pards tuk to her, 
an we tried ter do all we cud ; but seem’ we woz hard 
an wicked, it warn’t no place fur her. It woz winter, ye 
see, an’ she jest hed ter stay. But she done us all good, 
sir, an afore she left the camp, we hed learned ter love 
the Lord Jesus Christ. She’s bin the biggest blessin’ ov 
my life, sir, but I’m mighty glad ter put her in the arms 
ov them thet kin do fur her what ought ter be done.” 

Richard’s voice broke in spite of himself. He was 
sitting now, for Bessie, tired out, had fallen asleep in his 
arms. Mrs. Preston arose, and grasped his free hand, 
with the tears running down her face. 

“Richard Trent,” she said, with intense earnestness, 
“may God do so to us and more also if we ever forget 
what you have done for our precious child. The hands 
that helped lay our son David in a quiet grave, and the 
heart that was tender for the orphaned baby, deserves 
more than we can ever give.” 

“Yes,” added Mr. Preston, in a broken voice, “our 
home shall be yours as long as you choose to make it so. 
We are your debtors for life, in a sense that money can 
never repay.” 

Richard was overwhelmed by so much gratitude. He 
could not understand it. But the mastering feeling was 
that God was good. He need not leave Bessie, for they 


148 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


had bidden him stay beside her. Yet his sturdy, native 
independence revolted against receiving so much without 
service on his part. 

As soon as he could regain his self-control, he said : 

“ I thank you, friends. Ef ye hev sumthin’ fur me to 
do, I’d gladly stay near Bessie. The child hez got hold 
of a bit of my heart. I’ve got plenty ter live on ; it isn’t 
the need of enythin’ like thet, but I hunger ter be near 
the baby. Ez I told ye, she’s bin the blessin’ ov my life. 
I’ve bin knocked around ever sence I kin remember, with 
nobody to keer fur me, but she loved me, the fust in all 
the wide world. Ef ye hezn’t enythin’ fur me ter do, I’ll 
hunt fur work close by.” 

But Mr. Preston laid a detaining hand on Bichard’s 
shoulder. 

“ You belong to us,” he said. “ Remember, it is all 
strange to the child, and she will need your familiar face 
till she becomes used to her new surroundings.” 

“I will stay,” he answered. Then, turning to Mrs. 
Preston, he continued : 

“ I hope ye will not think it a liberty, ma’am, but cud 
Bessie sleep in my room to-night ? She’s thet tired thet 
she’d be sadly frightened to wake up an’ not see Uncle 
Dick beside her. I’ve larnt her to call me Uncle Dick, 
ma’am,” he added, apologetically. “She needed some 
one ter belong with.” 

“ And Uncle Dick it shall still be,” Mrs. Preston said, 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


149 


kindly. “ A cot shall be placed in your room for her 
to-night, and to-morrow we can make farther arrange- 
ments.” 

So Richard Trent had his darling all to himself for 
one more night. Do you wonder that he fell asleep 
thanking God for all his goodness? He need not be 
parted from her in the glad future stretching out before 
them. He could have the joy of watching her beautiful 
development in this sheltering home to which he had 
been permitted to bring her. Surely, the best service of 
the remainder of his life was due to this blessed Lord and 
Master. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


BESSIE AT HOME. 

/TATTERS were soon satisfactorily arranged. Mr. 
AjA. p re ston, feeble and partially helpless, needed a 
trustworthy man to superintend the place, and supply, in 
a physical sense, the useless right hand. 

Had Richard Trent been an educated man, he would 
have been made Mr. Preston’s private secretary ; but his 
faithfulness made him valuable in the capacity of general 
manager. 

Pete, brought from the station with the baggage, was 
also made welcome as a member of the family. In his 
air of perfect contentment, he gave no sign of longing for 
his old life in the Sierras. He accepted the new condi- 
tions of existence, always happy if he could be near his 
little mistress. In course of time, he grew so large that 
he could not be allowed to live in the house ; but a luxu- 
rious kennel was built, where he held royal court for all 
the dogs of the neighborhood. He always went with 
Bessie in her walks, and was a real protector. 

And what of Bessie’s new life ? It was far different 
from anything in her experience. She soon became 

wonted to her grandparents and the nurse. Till then, 
150 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


151 


she clung to Richard; and his unvarying tenderness 
awakened wonder and admiration in the hearts of the 
child’s doting friends. 

A lovely room, dainty and exquisite in all its appoint- 
ments, was fitted up for the little maiden. Her nurse 
was a woman who had been known and trusted by Mrs. 
Preston for many years. Yet everything that pertained 
to her welfare and comfort was continually under the 
watchful eye of her grandmother. In short, she took her 
rightful place as the child of a wealthy home. Clad in 
dainty garments, she flitted to and fro, the very embodi- 
ment of brightness and joy. Before her coming, the old 
house had been a gloomy and silent abode, haunted with 
the ghosts of departed years. Now all was changed. 
Her grandfather seemed to grow younger and less stern 
every day. In fact, there was danger that he would spoil 
her, for he could never bear to have her wishes crossed 
in the slightest degree. Her grandmother was more wise ; 
but after all, it w r as Uncle Hick whose influence helped 
to preserve the right balance in Bessie’s affairs. As he 
went in and out, attending to his many duties he always 
seemed to know how to speak the words that restrained 
her in any childish naughtiness. His standing was not 
at all that of a servant, but a beloved member of the 
family. All realized that in him Bessie had a true and 
faithful friend ; one who would be, if occasion offered, 
faithful even unto death. 


152 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Through the services of Mr. Stanton, David Preston’s 
property in California, with its rich silver mine, was sold, 
and a handsome fortune reinvested in Eastern securities 
in Elizabeth Preston’s name. Before the winter snows 
blockaded the canon, a marble shaft gleamed white over 
the grave in Fortune Gulch. 'Charles Preston also per- 
suaded Richard Trent to invest his property in certain 
tried and proved directions, not knowing that this faith- 
ful Christian had mentally devoted every dollar not 
needed for his own support to the advancement of the 
Lord’s kingdom. 

"I meant it all fur Bessie,” he said to himself; “ but 
Bessie has more than she needs of her own. Thar is 
plenty of need fur money ter carry on the good work. 
I’ll jest keep my eyes open, an’ see whar it ’ll do the 
most good.” 

The old people never tired of hearing Richard tell the 
particulars of David Preston’s coming into Fortune Gulch 
camp, and his life while there. The books which he had 
packed away as the last act of his life, in the happy be- 
lief that he was going home, were treasured as sacred 
relics. His mother could not express her grateful thanks 
to the men who had generously contributed their gold to 
send the poor, sick wanderer home. 

“ OV’ she would exclaim in her grief, “ why couldn’t 
his life have been spared just a little longer, so that he 
might have died at home ! ” 


FORTUNE GULCH. 153 

“ It ’pears to me, ma’am,” Richard answered, on one of 
these occasions, “ thet the dear Lord let him die ter save 
souls on the mountains. Why, ef ye cud know the wick- 
edness of the men in them mining camps, rough an’ bad 
more ’cause they hasn’t good influences than ’cause they 
wants ter be bad, ye would be glad that David Preston, 
by givin’ up his life, left Bessie ter do her blessed work. 
She made us human agin ; little by little the devil lost 
hold, an’ we got a grip on God. Then he sent a sarvent 
of his own ter us, an’ we found out that the Lord woz a 
lovin’ ov us all the time, an sendin’ these yer happenin’s 
ter draw us whar we ought ter be. I tell ye, ma’am, it 
woz worth one man’s life, the good done in that one camp.” 

Gradually she grew to take in the blessed truth, and to 
rejoice that he died happy, in the expectation of seeing 
her again. 

David had been the only child ; and portraits of him 
at various periods in his life were all about the house. 
These greatly interested Richard. He would stand and 
study them by the hour. Then shaking his head, he 
would say : 

“ They don’t look like the man thet cum inter Fortune 
Gulch. Sickness, an’ sorrer, an’ worriment ov mind 
made him jest a shadder of these ere picters. I reckon 
it’s all right now. Wonder ef I’ll know him in heaven ? ” 

The greatest evidence of the change of mind in Charles 
Preston was the fact that a life-size portrait of Bessie’s 


154 


FOKTUNE GULCH. 


mother, painted from the little daguerreotype found in the 
box, in process of time hung in the drawing room. Bessie 
was strikingly like her. “She is clear Chandler,” Rich- 
ard heard her grandfather say one day, a little regret- 
fully. Then he smiled at the spirited answer of the 
child’s devoted grandmother : 

“ That doesn’t spoil her a bit. She is sweet and pretty 
and good enough to do honor to the Preston name, and I 
am glad David named her Elizabeth. It just suits her 
little queenly ways.” 

Richard longed to find Bill Myers. He remembered 
the name of the New York town where his family had 
lived during the years of his sojourn in the land of gold, 
but, alas, he could not write. How he longed to tell him 
of the wonderful way in which the Lord had led Bessie 
and himself, and the solution of the mystery over which 
he and Bill had puzzled so many weary hours ! His heart 
longed after the man who had been his partner through 
weary stretches of gold digging. Comrade and friend, he 
had entered with him, a brother beloved, into the king- 
dom of heaven. How had it fared with him since the 
day he had turned his face eastward after his long exile ? 

Their common faith in Christ Jesus had been a closer 
bond of union than anything that had gone before. In 
this wide Eastern land was there to be no token, no sign 
between them ? 

Unconsciously, Richard let fall a hint of this longing 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


155 


in one of his talks with Mrs. Preston. It seemed as if 
she could not find enough ways in which she could be of 
service to this man who had rendered such royal ministry 
to the dead and to the living. Immediately she offered to 
write to this town for him, in the hope that it might reach 
his old friend. It had not occurred to Richard to ask 
her to do this favor, so unaccustomed was he to any ser- 
vice from others. But he gratefully accepted the offer, 
and the letter was sent on its way, reaching Bill Myers 
safely in due time. 

A week later, a letter came in return, badly spelled 
and written, but joyfully welcomed by Richard. Mrs. 
Preston had no small task to decipher all of it, but at 
last she succeeded, and was able to read it to him. And 
this was the letter, save for corrections in spelling : 

My Dear Pard: I take my pen in hand to say that I am 
well, and hoping you are the same. I got your letter, old pard, 
and I was mighty glad to hear from you. And so you did find 
them papers! I knew that ere Jem took them. And Bessie had 
a silver mine, and her pappy didn’t know it. Well, things is 
strange. Was glad to hear that Bessie got home, and you stay 
with her folks. I got home all right, and the children have 
grown just powerful. I bought me a nice farm when my debts was 
paid, and my place is very pleasant. I joined the church after 
I come, and the Lord and me we sticks together. Come and see 
me, old pard. Wife wants to know you. Let me hear again. 
No more at present 

Prom your old pard, 

William Myers. 

P. S. I can’t think of you noways but as Absalom. Don’t 
know Richard Trent.” 


156 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Richard treasured this letter as worth its weight in gold. 
His life had known few objects of affection, and in their 
long and close association, Bill Myers had become dear 
to his heart. 

“ You must make Bill a visit,” said Mrs. Preston, one 
day, when he had been talking about his old chum in a 
way that showed a hungering to see him once more. 

“ Kin Mr. Preston spare me ? ” he asked, a little wist- 
fully. 

“ Spare you ? Of course I can,” said that gentleman, 
when the question was referred to him. “ You have put 
matters in such good trim that they will almost run them- 
selves, I think. The question is, can you tear yourself 
away from Bessie ? ” he continued, laughing. 

“ Seem’ that I know she is in safe care, I kin, I guess ” 
answered Richard. So it was settled that be should take 
as long a vacation as he felt like doing. It was quite a 
journey, but they studied out the route well for him be- 
forehand, so that he need have no difficulty in making the 
necessary changes. Mrs. Preston wrote to notify Bill 
Myers of his coming, and he started on his way full of 
anticipation. 

Bill was waiting for him when he stepped from the 
cars at the end of his journey. What a visit the two men 
had ! After seeing Richard’s changed appearance, Bill 
had little trouble to substitute the new name. In regard 
to the matter, he said : 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


157 


“ You’re right, ole pard. Absalom don’t fit you no- 
ways now. Ye look like another man, yet I kin see yer 
ole self too, when ye speak.” 

Bill Myers had changed also. He was a man of impor- 
tance and influence in his neighborhood, and Richard 
greatly enjoyed going over his fine farm. Choice stock 
roamed in the pastures, while his horses were the pride of 
their owner’s heart. His residence was large and com- 
fortable, and on every hand were evidences of thrift and 
plenty, Mrs. Myers was a pleasant woman, who wel- 
comed her husband’s old friend most cordially. Now 
her life was full of comfort and happiness, but past 
trouble had worn deep furrows in her face. The present 
peace and joy must seem in vivid contrast to such a 
past. 

Bill had reason to be proud of his children. Five of 
them sat around his table. Willie, the oldest, his father’s 
namesake, was almost of age, and the right-hand helper 
in farm work. Last of all was Jack, the baby, born 
after Bill’s return from his long exile, and named for 
John Rose. Between were three blooming girls. 

In the church, William Myers was a power. He was 
leader of the choir, and one of the best financial sup- 
porters of the gospel. Better than all, he was a consis- 
tent, active, Christian. He lived his religion every day 
in the week. He could talk to men who spurned 
religious counsel from all others. 


158 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


The two friends spent many hours comparing experi- 
ences since their parting at Fortune Gulch. Bill had 
no end of questions to ask regarding the solution of the 
perplexing mystery that overhung Bessie’s affairs when 
he last saw her. 

“It is jest wonderful, Dick,” said he, “how that child 
was taken keer of and kept through all thet time. An’ 
so Jem is in prison ! I am glad ter know that he got his 
deserts at last.” 

Richard went back to River Plains cheered and com- 
forted by this visit. Bill promised to return it at some 
time when there was a lull in farm work. He had a 
longing to see Bessie, the baby of the old mining camp, 
in her changed surroundings. The child welcomed “ Uncle 
Dick ” gleefully, and all were truly glad to have him 
back, for the wheels of affairs did not run so smoothly 
when he was not in charge. He also was contented to 
step into the old groove once more. His heart was satis- 
fied j and faithful in the least, as well as in the greater 
duties of his office, the days slipped by in perfect peace 
and satisfaction. 

He had become a member of the church the Prestons 
attended. He was not prominent like Bill Myers, but he 
exemplified in an eminent manner the grace of giving. 
The pastor soon learned where to go for means with 
which to prosecute special lines of Christian work. 

“ The money isn’t mine,” Richard would say, “ it is 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


159 


the Lord’s. Ef he’ll jest show me whar he wants it, thar 
it shall go.” 

And thus the years sped by. Bessie in her beautiful 
home rapidly grew into a lovely girl. Peacefully her 
grandparents passed toward the sunset, and our friend 
Richard was finding the late joy and sweetness of living. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


BESSIE AT EIGHTEEN. 

T710URTEEX years have passed since we last saw 
Bessie, the idol of her grandparents’ home. 
Through trials and perils sore for a tender child, she 
had been safely led to a haven of rest and peace. 

The years that lay between that childhood time and 
the present fruition were, for the most part, uneventful 
years. Tutors and masters taught her at home through 
all the foundation period of her education. Her doting 
grandparents could not bear to send her from them, after 
their narrow escape from losing her altogether. 

As she developed with the passing years, Bessie proved 
to be all their hearts could wish. She inherited her 
mother’s rare beauty, with the spirit and grace of the 
Preston’s. Among her young associates, as in the camp 
at Fortune Gulch, she was always “ Queen Bess.” Music 
was her absorbing passion. Her voice proved to be one 
of marvellous scope and power, with all the sweetness of 
the wild bird’s song. She received training from the 
best masters ; and the more solid branches of education 
were by no means neglected. Bright, and quick to learn, 
Bessie progressed rapidly. Her physical development 
160 























































Fortune Gulch. 


Page 161 



\ 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


161 


was carefully watched over. It was a pretty sight to see 
her on her pony, Fleet, in her dainty habit, skimming 
over the country like the wind, Pete always close behind. 

A less generous, unselfish nature might have been 
spoiled by all this lavish petting and indulgence. But 
there must have been a gift by inheritance which proved 
her safeguard. It seemed utterly impossible to spoil 
Bessie. Her soul was too full of delicate, sympathetic 
impulses, to appropriate so much without giving lavishly 
in return. She had the power to anticipate the slightest 
wishes of her grandparents, and her life was only joyous 
in giving joy to others. Her glorious voice filled the old 
house with music. Had she been a poor girl, her gift of 
song would have been her fortune. As it was, she used 
it in imparting pleasure. 

Charles Preston grew more and 'more helpless as time 
passed on; but his sight and hearing were mercifully 
spared to him. He would watch Bessie as she flitted 
about with an expression of intense love and longing, 
and when she sang, he would listen with an air of perfect 
contentment. 

Grandmother Preston faded away slowly. For a time, 
she seemed to renew her age in Bessie’s bright presence ; 
and the care of the child was a perpetual joy that was 
like an elixir of life. But, as her charge grew beyond 
the need of so much personal oversight, she rested peace- 
fully while watching her beautiful development. Un- 
L 


162 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


consciously, the silver cord was being gently loosened, 
and the golden bowl drawing nearer to its breaking. 

Bessie was passionately devoted to her grandmother. 
She loved the old man with ardent affection, but the tie 
between the child and Mrs. Preston was peculiarly tender. 
It was her delight to give to them daily ministrations of 
comfort, and surely their last days were sweetened and 
brightened by her loving presence. 

Bessie was fifteen when the first bereavement came. A 
final shock of his old enemy, paralysis, ended the life- 
story for Charles Preston. His later years were very 
different from the stern, hard years that preceded them. 
After his palsied tongue became unable to express his 
thoughts, all the repentance for former injustice and 
hardness toward his own, was locked within his breast. 
But a change was evident. Bessie had brought to him 
also, the divine lesson. 

One morning, they found him cold and lifeless. The 
last shock had laid its paralyzing touch upon his heart, 
and stilled its pulsations forever. The physician had 
warned them of this probable ending, but it was almost 
as crushing and terrible as if they had not shudderingly 
watched for its coming. 

A grand funeral pageant followed, and Charles Preston 
was laid in his grave with manifold honors. He had 
been a man of importance and influence, just and up- 
right in his dealings, and his sternness had injured only 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


163 


his own flesh and blood. The rich have no lack of 
friends j therefore, amid eulogies and honors they left him 
to sleep till the resurrection trump in the old family bury- 
ing ground. Through all this hard time, Richard Trent 
was a tower of strength. It was in his arms that Bessie 
found a chance to weep out her own grief. Her grand- 
mother had clung to her like a little child. After she 
had fallen asleep, Bessie sought her unfailing refuge in 
trouble, Uncle Dick. He could soothe and comfort her 
as no one else in all the world. 

Mrs. Preston sank rapidly after her husband’s death. 
Her mind failed also, as her physical strength declined, 
and she could not bear to have Bessie out of her sight. 
This was a terrible strain upon the poor child. Richard 
Trent saw it, and in many ways contrived to lighten 
her burden. 

Just at sunset, one lovely June day, two weeks after 
her husband had been laid to rest, the^ faithful wife died. 
The sun sank to rest in a blaze of golden glory. The 
invalid had been dozing for many hours, but roused 
herself as the rays streamed in through the western win- 
dows. Her eyes were bright with their old-time expres- 
sion, and they rested on Bessie with unspeakable tenderness. 

“ It is almost over, darling,” she said, “ the long wait- 
ing time. Just beyond, David and Charles are waiting 
for my coming. You will be lonely, dear, but I leave 
you to God.” 


164 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


Then she asked, “ Where is Richard Trent ? ” 

Stepping forward, he answered, “ Here.” 

“ Richard Trent,” she said, solemnly, “ you were faith- 
ful to the child when she was orphaned in the years gone 
by. Promise me that you will still guard and cherish 
her when she is once more left desolate.” 

“ I promise, ma’am,” he said, brokenly. “ Bessie shan’t 
want fur eny care Uncle Dick kin give her.” 

“ I know you would lay down your life for her sake, if 
need be,” she answered, “ and I die content.” 

Bessie’s hands were closely clasped in hers, and the 
child would not remove them, although the tears were 
raining down her cheeks, and heavy sobs convulsed her 
frame. Gently, as a passing sunbeam, the weary soul 
slipped from its worn tenement of clay and joined the 
great majority in the beyond. 

“ It is all over,” said the old nurse, softly closing her 
eyes. Bessie shrieked in her agony of grief, which she 
had been restraining by an intense effort, lest she should 
disturb the peace of the passing soul. Uncle Dick took 
her in his arms and bore her from the room to her own. 
There he cared for her for hours, quieting her stormy 
sorrow, holding her close against his heart, which ached 
to comfort his darling. His thoughts continually went 
back to that other scene, years before, when he had taken 
her from the side of her dead father. He thanked God 
that he could still be with her and minister to her in 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


165 


her great need of comfort. Bessie was not a Christian. 
Although she had been so especially a blessing to others, 
no emergency in her maturer life had caused her to feel 
the need of Christ. So this source of strength was not 
hers to draw from in this hour of utter desolation. 
Richard Trent prayed for her salvation daily. His faith 
never wavered, although the answer seemed long delayed. 
W as this affliction needed to bring her to the foot of the 
cross ? 

After the funeral, Grandfather Preston’s will was read. 
Aside from a few minor bequests, everything was given 
to Bessie. She was not only mistress of the old house, 
but heir to all the great Preston estates. 

“ How can I take care of it all, Uncle Dick?” she 
asked, pitifully. “ It is too great a trust. I wish grand- 
father hadn’t given it all to gne weak little girl.” 

“ Thet’s jest what it is, Bessie,” he answered, gravely 
and tenderly, “ a sort o’ trust. The Lord’s given ye large 
possessions, an’ he wants ye ter do good in this needy 
world.” 

“ You’ll have to show me how, Uncle Dick,” she said, 
wearily. “ I am such an ignorant child.” 

“Jest ask him ter show ye, darlin’, one step at a 
time.” 

In grandfather’s will was made the provision that 
Bessie should go to a celebrated school in Boston for two 
or three years, to finish her education, and be fitted for 


166 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


her position in life. A cousin of her father came to be 
the housekeeper, and Richard Trent was to remain as 
chief manager. In the autumn, Bessie, with a sad heart, 
left the dear old home at River Plains, to enter a board- 
ing school. 

Her life there was uneventful. Her deep mourning, 
her rare beauty, her position as an heiress, won her 
plenty of attention. But here, as before, the natural 
sweetness and unselfishness of her disposition kept her 
from being spoiled by the homage she received. Perhaps 
it was well that her property was in the care of a 
guardian, else she might have dispensed aid unwiselv. 
Every case of need awoke her sympathy, and she would 
gladly have given away all that she had, if it would have 
made others happier. She studied faithfully, and in 
three years graduated with high honors. 

It was the last of June when she returned to the dear 
old home, ready to consider plans regarding her future 
life. The first evening, she closeted herself in the library 
for a confidential talk with Uncle Dick. 

He, dear soul, was rejoiced to find her the same Bessie 
she had always been. Her brief vacation visits had 
assured him that she was not being led astray by her 
contact with the world. Now he fondly hoped that she 
had come to stay, for she was the joy of his heart. 

“Grandmother told me, Uncle Dick,” she said, “of a 
letter papa left for me, to be opened on my eighteenth 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


167 


birthday. That is close at hand. Do you know any- 
thing about it ? ” 

“ Why, yes, child, it hez allers bin kept in thet box he 
left the papers in. Yer grandfather ’lowed ter keep thet 
jest ez near ez yer father left it ez he cud. Some ov the 
papers hed ter be used in court an’ in settlin’ up his 
biziness, but the most ov them is waitin’ fur ye on yer 
eighteenth birthday.” 

“ And I must wait two whole weeks more ! ” she 
exclaimed. “ Oh, Uncle Dick, I long to read my 
father’s letter, and yet it seems so solemn that I am half 
afraid. It is like a voice from the grave.” 

“ It’ll be a lovin’, tender voice, Bessie,” Uncle Dick 
answered. 

More talk there was of the future, with its near respon- 
sibilities, for the will had provided that Bessie was to 
come into possession of her property on her eighteenth 
birthday. She had rather a startling plan to lay before 
Richard Trent. After her birthday was passed, and all 
her affairs in shape to leave, she and Uncle Dick would 
go to California and revisit the old scenes. It had long 
been the desire of her heart to bring her father’s and her 
mother’s dust and lay it in the home resting place. 

The eventful day dawned. Bessie had an appointment 
with her guardian, a Boston lawyer, at one o’clock, and 
he was also to be entertained at dinner. 

The forenoon hours were precious ones, for in them she 


168 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


wished to read her father’s parting words, written so many 
years before. As soon as she could escape from the loving 
congratulations of her friends upon the attainment of her 
majority, she sought her room, where she found Uncle 
Dick awaiting her, with the precious box in his hands. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


AT FORTUNE GULCH. 

B ESSIE was soon alone, with the closely written sheets 
of her father’s letter open before her. Her being 
was thrilled with a strange sensation at the thought of a 
message from the dead. Pale and trembling, she took it 
up, but the paper shook in her hands. 

When she gained courage to read it, she soon became 
absorbed at the revelations of her father’s heart which it 
contained. The story of his life was written out with a 
fidelity to detail that made it a glowing, vivid word pic- 
ture. She had never known much of her mother. The 
beautiful face in the portrait always smiled lovingly upon 
the girl, but the lips never unclosed to speak to her the 
words she longed to hear. 

Anticipating the lack of all sources of knowledge, 
David Preston had written out for his daughter enough 
of her mother’s story to acquaint her somewhat with the 
beautiful soul passed from earth. He dwelt lightly upon 
her grandfather’s share in the injustice that had driven 
him to California, but with keen intuition she understood 
the whole matter. 

The letter had been written in Fortune Gulch, only a 

1G9 


170 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


little before the sudden call which had left her orphaned 
and alone. The shadow of death was over his soul when 
he penned the lines, and in its haunting presence he had 
striven to write words of loving counsel, which should 
speak for him long after he had mouldered back to dust. 
Bessie read them with streaming eyes, and a tender rev- 
erence for the father who could speak thus to her heart. 

These were the closing words : 

“My child, you may hold in your hands the power which 
wealth bestows. Use it wisely, not for selfish ends ; for I have 
learned that money, valued for its own sake, brings only curses 
and sorrow. The world is full of pitiful need, of which you 
never can have dreamed. Scatter blessings, and you will reap a 
harvest of joy. 

“ My darling Bessie, when I think of you at eighteen, I can 
only see my* Elizabeth, as she first stood before me, in the sweet- 
ness and beauty of her blossoming. Be worthy of your mother. 
May God bless and keep and guard my precious child. From 
the silent land I stretch out longing hands. Make the God of 
your mother your own God ; and purified by his blood, meet 
your loved ones in the beyond, which is not far from anv one of 
us. The veil grows thin. Good-bye, my daughter, my only one. 

“ Your father, David Preston.” 

Casting herself on her knees, Bessie sobbed forth : 

“ O God, the God of my parents, accept me on this 
day of days. All I am, and all I have, I consecrate to 
thy service. Only guard and guide thy weak and erring 
child. Amen.” 

The sacrifice was accepted. With a new, strange peace, 
Elizabeth Preston arose from her knees, and knew that 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


171 


henceforth she was not her own, but was “ bought with a 
price.” 

Two weeks later, Bessie and Richard Trent' turned 
their faces toward the setting sun. Not by wagon train 
this time ; for now the Great American Desert was belted 
with iron rails, and swift steam engines made rapid com- 
munication possible between the shores of the Atlantic 
and the Pacific. Richard was filled with wonder as they 
sped swiftly and ceaselessly, day and night, on their west- 
ward way. 

“It’s a leetle different, Bessie,” he said, “from the 
journey we made when I brought ye, a baby, ’cross the 
plains. Thet wm a quick trip fur them days, but times 
is changed, Bessie, times is changed.” 

Up, up, up, the great train climbed the mountains, 
and one morning they looked down upon the green 
valleys of California. Bessie gazed with misty eyes. It 
was the land of her birth, and the last resting place of 
her father and mother. Her own memories of it were 
dim and shadowy ; but an overpowering love for the re- 
gion of her birth filled her soul, as she gazed upon the 
beautiful vista spread out before her. 

Their stay in Sacramento w T as a short one. The little 
town in the foot-hills, where David Preston had made his 
California home, was first sought out. The home itself was 
gone, — the silver mine and its accessories having swal- 
lowed up every vestige of the dwellings that formerly 


172 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


occupied its vicinity. Their search in this locality was 
for a grave in the little cemetery, quaintly set in a nook 
of the hills. 

After long searching among the scattered mounds, they 
found it. A stone had been placed to mark the spot, but 
the place had run wild from neglect, and the stone, par- 
tially fallen, was cracked and discolored. But Bessie 
could decipher the name — 

“ ELIZABETH MARY, 

“BELOVED WIFE OF DAVID PRESTON.” 

The dates of birth and death were not legible ; but she 
had found sufficient proof that this was the grave she 
sought. 

From here they went to Fortune Gulch. The cars ran 
as far into the mountains as Monte Christo, now a thriving 
city. Two lines of daily stages penetrated into the 
heights above. Taking passage in one of these convey- 
ances, our travelers found themselves in Fortune Gulch 
one summer day, about sunset. It was on just such a 
golden day that Bessie had made her first entrance into 
the place. 

Richard Trent looked around bewildered. This busy 
town, with pleasant homes, regular streets, and the hum 
of active business, bore small resemblance to the mining 
camp of his remembrance. He felt at an utter loss. 
Bessie came to the rescue. 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


173 


“ What hotels are there ? ” she asked of the obsequious 
driver, who awaited their commands. 

He glibly named over three or four, the Rose House 
at the end of the list. 

“ Take us there,” she said. And sooji the stage drew 
up before a large, white building, very different from the 
Rose House of former times. This was certainly never 
Jem Flanigan’s old saloon. 

“Who keeps this ere house?” Richard asked, as they 
prepared to descend. 

“ Jack Rose, I believe they calls him. Leastways, his 
wife runs the house, and a mighty nice tidy place it is too ; 
but Jack Rose, he’s a sort o’ travelin’ preacher, and ain’t 
to hum much.” 

So they had found one familiar name. A sturdy young 
man came out to meet the travelers, and help the driver 
with the baggage. Entering, a middle-aged woman came 
forward to greet the supposed strangers. Although grown 
more matronly, and of greater weight than in the former 
years, Richard had no trouble in recognizing her as Janet 
Rose. 

She too, was puzzled by the familiarity of the face of the 
man before her. When he spoke, she knew him at once ; 
and hearty, indeed, was the greeting between these old 
friends. But when Richard said : 

“ I s’pose ye wouldn’t hev known Bessie ? ” the good 
woman’s surprise quite overcame her, and she sank down 


174 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


into a chair. Soon, however, she regained her self-con- 
trol, and giving Bessie a warm embrace, exclaimed : 

“ I’ve always thought of you as little Bessie. I hardly 
dare to claim acquaintance with such a sweet young lady ! ” 

But she was quickly convinced that Bessie was not so 
much changed as to ignore the friends of her helpless 
childhood. “ Rosebud ” proved to be a buxom lass, rosy 
and hearty, now known by the name of Jennie. Janet 
greatly wondered that such a bit of the past should step 
right into her present. It seemed to her that she was 
dreaming, and that she would waken to find that Richard 
and Bessie had vanished. 

“Yes,” she said, in answer to their questioning, “John 
was drawn into preaching in spite of himself. He has a 
little church here, but he spends much of his time in the 
mining camps. Folks say he is doing a great deal of 
good.” 

“ Of course, he is,” answered Richard, heartily. “ He 
begun doin’ good jest ez soon ez he struck these ere moun- 
tains ; an’ by this time he must hev a pile ov it ter his credit.” 

It was indeed true that John Rose had proved a veri- 
table missionary. He had just the tact and manner to 
influence the rough men with whom he was thrown. In 
many camps he was a welcome messenger, and in the last 
day many redeemed souls from the hills will form the 
stars in his crown of rejoicing. 

Richard Trent and Elizabeth Preston had laid broad 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


175 


and generous plans for carrying on the good work in this 
needy region. As a result, funds were placed in the bank 
for a pretty memorial edifice for the church to which 
John Rose ministered. On a marble tablet, laid in the 
masonry of the front wall, was to be cut the words : 

“ DAVID PRESTON MEMORIAL.” 

Nor was this all. An amount amply sufficient to make 
them independent for life, was invested for John Rose 
and his family, that he might give his undivided attention 
to the work he loved. Janet, however, refused to leave 
the Rose House, saying : 

“ It is my chance of doing good too. A Christian 
boarding house for the men, and a clean place for trav- 
elers, is a sort of mission, and I can’t be denied this share 
in John’s work. When 1 get old, and unable to carry 
the burden, I will thankfully fold my hands, and enjoy 
your bounty, dear friends. Till then, let me go on my 
chosen way.” 

The next step was the establishment of a Free Library 
and Reading Room in Fortune Gulch, also to be known 
as the “ David Preston Library.” John Rose was in 
charge of this trust, being empowered to employ his 
helpers. A generous fund was also placed at his disposal 
for his missionary work among the camps. The good 
man felt as if his burdens were being lightened in a mar- 
velous manner, and his gratitude was unbounded. 


176 


FORTUNE GULCH. 


“ Ah, Richard,” he said, “ I little thought iu that long, 
ago time when, forlorn and discouraged, I set foot in F or- 
tune Gulch, that the Lord had such a path marked out 
for me. You were Absalom then ; but out of the sin and 
roughness of that old life, God has made you a chosen 
vessel to help on his truth.” 

A few days later, Bessie and Richard were standing 
beside David Preston’s grave. It had been well cared 
for by John Rose and his faithful wife. California flow- 
ers were blooming upon the low mound, the tall shaft 
still gleaming white against its background of mountains. 
In this sacred spot, Elizabeth Preston consecrated herself 
anew to the uplifting of the needy. Richard stood beside 
her with bowed head. His thoughts were busy with his 
first knowledge of the man who was “ 'quainted with 
God.” Through him, and his helpless, orphaned baby, 
the Light of the World had come into his darkened soul. 
His future, also, was consecrated. 

And so, in the spot where first we saw her, we leave 
our Bessie. She is standing on the Divide ; not only of 
God’s uplifted mountain land, but also of her life. 
Hitherto, she has been in childhood’s country ; hence- 
forth, her face is turned toward a noble, self-sacrificing 
womanhood. 


THE END. 




























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